Athlone Town -v- Waterford United

Preview By Craig O'Sullivan

 

This Friday May 24th Athlone Town take on Waterford United at the Athlone Town Stadium. This will be the second meeting of the two sides, with Waterford winning the first outing 1-0 through a David Breen goal in the 78th minute. That win was Waterford's first league win of the season and this match like the first match between the sides Waterford go into the game on a bad run of form and will be looking to get back to winning ways.

The last league outing for Waterford was the last for manager Paul O'Brien as he had stood down from he's position after the game. Over the last couple of days it is rumoured former Waterford player and manager Alan Reynolds will be caretaker boss for the next few games till they find a permanent person for the position. In Waterford's one game since the departure of Paul O'Brien they played premier league side Limerick. Waterford probably played the best football they've played all season by keeping the ball on the ground and passing their way out of trouble which is something United fans have seen very little of this season. As in the majority of games they've this season they've continuously played long ball after long ball. Waterford players will have gained confidence from this game as they had the lead for two thirds of the match only to concede in the dying seconds and then go on to lose on penalties.

In the past week Waterford have received news that long-term injury Peter Keegan has returned to training but looks likely not to be in the match day squad as they may not want to risk him. Waterford also have doubts over Peter Higgins,Paudie Quinn and John Frost. Paul Qulity who mist Mondays league cup game should be back into the match day squad. Waterford will look to close the gap on the play-off places after such a bad start and their last outing against Limerick showed why they shouldn't be ruled out for a play-off spot just yet.

Roddy Collins men should be going into this game believing they can win all three points as they are unbeaten in the last couple of league outings and five points ahead of Waterford. Athlone have seem to be doing a lot of travelling lately having not played at home in the last two league outings. The Athlone supporters are expected to be out in numbers to get behind their team in such a big game. Athlone go into this game with the stats against them as they haven't beaten Waterford in over ten years ,but on the other hand when Roddy was in charge of Monaghan in the First Division Waterford weren't able to beat them. Athlone will look to break into the play-off places this week and close the gap on their Mid-Land rivals Longford Town while doing so. Athlone have reported no injuries or suspensions so should have a full squad to choose.

The game could potential be a cracker with both sides looking for a win and the last 17 games producing 38 goals.

 

 

 

 

Stats

Athlone have played seven games since the sides meet in the first series of games with six in the league and one in the Leinster senior cup. From those seven games they've won three scoring seven conceding one, have drawn two scoring and conceding three goals and also lost two which includes the 3-1 in the Leinster senior cup and also the 2-1 loss to near rivals Longford Town. In the six league games they have taken 11 from a possible 18 (61% of the points available).

Waterford have played eight games since the sides last faced each other also six league games, one Munster cup game and one Ea sports league cup game. Waterford have also won three games scoring four conceding one, they have drawn two games scoring and conceding just the one goal, they have also lost two games without scoring a goal and conceding three. Waterford also lost in the Ea sports league to Limeirck where the game finished 1-1 in normal time and went through extra-time the same score but Waterford lost 4-2 in the penalty shoot out. Waterford have taken 8 points from a possible 18 (44.4% of the points available).

Since 2008 there has been 17 games between the sides where Waterford have won nine , and the remaining eight games were draws and Athlone didn't win one.

There is an average of 2.2 goals a game from the previous 17 games between the sides.

 

 

Key Threats

Athlone : Phillip Gorman and Mark Hughes (Striker and Midfielder)

Waterford : Vincent Sullivan and Jack Doherty (Striker and Winger)

 

 

Match Odds

Athlone win    11/8

Draw                 9/4

Waterford win 7/4

 

Blog Prediction : Athlone 1 - 2 Waterford