League Preview: UCD -v- Wexford
UCD
Third-placed UCD host seventh-placed Wexford in the Airtricity League First Division, in a game which will be the first for both sides in two weeks.
The Students come into this game off the back of a 1-0 away loss to table-topping Waterford two weeks ago.
They have only won once in their last seven games in all competitions- that was a 4-0 win at home to Athlone Town on 21st of July.
They were knocked out of the FAI Cup in the first round losing away to Cabinteely back on August 11th as well as accumulating a poor sum of six points from a possible 21 on offer in the league.
That is not promotion form but it was fair to say the Dublin club were not realistically going to challenge Waterford for that single promotion place when the odds were layed down at the start of the campaign.
With only four games left in the league season, they find themselves eight points adrift of second-placed Cobh Ramblers so that may be too insurmountable to overtake the Cork club.
One thing boss Collie O'Neill will be looking at from now till the end of the season is the form of the teams directly below them in the table, the aforementioned Cabinteely, Shelbourne and Longford Town, who all find themselves within touching distance of the Students with the season coming to a close.
The club will no doubt want to finish the season as strongly as possible, consolidating third place where they can build on for next season.
Young defender Liam Scales will miss Friday night’s game through suspension as he has accumulated five yellows.
WEXFORD
Buoyed by a supporter takeover of the club in midweek (read more here), Damien Locke's men come into this game off the back of a 2-0 home win against Cabinteely two weeks ago.
A Thomas Croke double in the first-half meant Wexford rose to seventh and condemned Athlone Town to prop up the table for the first time since the opening weeks of the season.
Locke is determined to finish the season strongly, and for this game, he will have a full squad available with no suspensions or major injury concerns.
In his pre-match press conference, he heaped praise on Friday night’s opposition, telling wexfordfc.ie.
"Collie [O'Neill] has a very talented squad at his disposal, and there's a reason that they're as high in the table as they are" Locke explained.
"As I've maintained all season long, you have to work hard for anything you get in this league. For the first time in a very long time, I'll have everyone available to me and it's an exciting prospect.
“To be able to bring quality players back in to the fold, and add them to the talent that's already there is brilliant. It certainly gives me a headache, which of course can only be a good thing"
Aaron O'Connor, who has missed the last six matches through injury, Adam Hanlon (seven matches) and Adam O'Rourke (two matches) are all available for selection once again after overcoming injury.
Mark Slater returns from a three game suspension after seeing red in the home tie with Cobh Ramblers.
Referee: Marc Lynch
MATCH STATS
The three previous meetings between the two teams this season have produced two draws (1-1 and 0-0 at Ferrycarrig Park), and a win for the Students (2-0 in May in the Bowl).
Those matches have produced just four goals - an average of 1.33 goals per game.
Thomas Croke is currently Wexford’s top goal scorer with six league goals, whereas UCD's Georgie Kelly is the division's top goalscorer with 14.
BETTING
UCD 2/5; Draw 10/3; Wexford 13/2
PREDICTION
UCD 3-1 Wexford
UCD
Injured: Greg Sloggett
Doubtful: Gary O'Neill
Suspended: Liam Scales
Wexford
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
