PREVIEW AND INFO: DUNDALK FC V WATERFORD FC
Dundalk return from the mid-season break hoping to extend their record-breaking run of home clean sheets and continue their upward trajectory when European-chasing Waterford visit Oriel Park in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division on Friday night.
Dundalk went into the break in a positive mood following a 1-0 win over Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park thanks to Daryl Horgan’s strike, which lifted them off the bottom of the table and shot them three points clear of near neighbours Drogheda United.
In that, Seán Molloy became the third goalkeeper to play in the team’s long streak of clean sheets on the Carrick Road, which now stands at eight, and the teenage stopper will vie with Ross Munro – who is available again after injury – for the number one jersey on Friday.
The Lilywhites lost their opening two home fixtures of the year, the second of those a 5-0 beating by Sligo, but amazingly they have not conceded there since that March 4th drubbing, subsequently winning against Bohs, Shamrock Rovers and the Bit O’Red alongside five scoreless draws.
Jon Daly’s men have taken seven points from the last 12 available, showing plenty of good signs under the new manager. He has been busy looking to add to his squad ahead of the opening of the July transfer window, with Scottish midfielder Scott McGill the first arrival earlier this week.
Dundalk now lie five points behind eighth-placed Bohemians, who have two games in hand, and six behind Sligo Rovers in seventh, with their upcoming home games against Waterford and Drogheda, who visit on July 12th, seen as vitally important in shaping the rest of the season.
Waterford, meanwhile, have been enjoying a fantastic return to the Premier Division under ex-Lilywhite Keith Long, and sit in fourth alongside third-placed Shamrock Rovers on 31 points.
The Blues have been in hot form since the beginning of May, winning six of their last nine games. They were only controversially beaten 1-0 by league leaders Shelbourne before the break, on a night at the RSC where Padraig Amond had a goal ruled out in a contentious offside call.
These teams have met twice this season. Dundalk collected their first home point of the campaign in a 0-0 stalemate in mid-March. They then suffered their joint-heaviest away defeat so far in Waterford in May, going down 4-1 after Robbie Benson had temporarily brought them level midway through the first half. Maleace Asamoah netted a hat-trick for the hosts, in what was Noel King’s final match in charge.
Tickets for Friday’s game are now on general sale.
Team News
Koen Oostenbrink and Ross Munro are back in contention but Jamie Gullan and Mayowa Animasahun are doubtful while Dara Keane is out. New signing Scott McGill is ineligible until July 1st.
Quotes – Jon Daly
“Waterford are a very good team and they’ve got some fantastic players. Padraig Amond is a fantastic striker and Maleace Asamoah has done well for them. He’s a real threat for them and on the other side you’ve got Connor Parsons who is a fantastic player. Young Ben McCormack, who I had at Pat’s, is playing off the front and he is a very talented player so at the top end of the pitch, they’re a real threat and we’re going to have to be on our game defensively to nullify that.
“From our point of view, there’s a lot to look forward to over the second part of the season. We finished off before the break with a very positive result and a really strong performance against Sligo Rovers. It’s about trying to back that up on Friday now and come out with maximum points and try and start to put a little bit of pressure on a few more teams around about us and get them looking over their shoulder.
“I think it’s really important that the teams above us don’t have that comfort of a gap there between us so if we can go and get a positive result on Friday, at 10pm that night I think the teams that are directly ahead of us will probably be within striking distance of us catching them.”
Quotes – Andy Boyle
“It would have been a long two weeks if we were sitting looking at the table and we were still bottom. It’s still not where we want to be but the win over Sligo before the break has given us a bit of a platform now to go and kick on.
“We want to pull as many teams in as close as possible to us and a win over Waterford would tighten things up and we have had a great record at Oriel Park, especially with the clean sheets. I think everyone has played their part in it.
“It gives us a platform in games because if you don’t concede, the minimum you can get is a point. I know it’s an old cliché, but we pride ourselves on that. I think celebrating little things like headers and clearances and stuff like that is massive and it goes a long way.”
Match Officials
Referee: Paul Norton
Assistants: Emmett Dynan and David Connolly
Fourth Official: Jason Moore
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