League Preview: Waterford -v- Bohemians

WATERFORD

The Blues revival under Marc Bircham continues apace with the last fortnight bringing a remarkable FAI Cup win against Athlone Town following a 4-4 draw after extra-time and a successful penalty shootout, and a 2-1 away win against Drogheda United last weekend.

New faces have been brought in adding experience and creativity to the squad while morale has clearly sky-rocketed after improved form after the club’s atrocious start to the season under former management duo, Kevin Sheedy and Mike Newell.

Despite the fact that Waterford are looking for their fourth league win on the spin, they still lie eighth in the ten-team Premier Division table, five points behind Dundalk in seventh, and nine points behind Saturday’s opponents Bohemians.

The two previous league encounters this season have gone the way of Bohs with the Gypsies recording a 1-0 win at the RSC in April, followed by a 3-0 win at Dalymount Park in late May.

Anthony Wordsworth will be suspended for this game but perhaps the most important bit of team news comes from the dugout rather than the training ground as Thursday saw Bircham sign a contract extension that will keep him in charge at the RSC until the end of next season.

Apart from Wordsworth, Waterford will be without Matt Connor, Daryl Murphy and Oscar Brennan through injury while defenders Eddie Nolan and Kyle Ferguson will face late fitness tests.

BOHEMIANS

Bohs come into this league encounter with Waterford on the back of just one win from their last three league outings. A heavy defeat away to Sligo Rovers and a 1-1 draw at Longford were split by a dramatic 3-2 home win over St. Pat’s at Dalymount Park.

But Keith Long’s side could be forgiven if their focus has shifted away from domestic matters in recent weeks. Since they drew 1-1 against Stjarnan in Iceland in early July, Bohs have played four and won four in a Europa Conference League adventure that has captured the imagination of the Irish football family.



Most recently, Long’s side beat Greek side, PAOK, 2-1 at the Aviva to set up an away leg next week that could send them into the qualifier play-offs. And in among all this exotic European success, Bohs also managed to send Munster Senior League side, College Corinthians, packing from the FAI Cup, winning 5-0 at Turner’s Cross three weeks ago.

For such a busy squad, Bohs have only two injury doubts ahead of the game with Promise Omochere and Stephen Mallon uncertain of passing themselves fit. That said, Keith Long is expected to rotate his team with a tough second leg away in north Greece against PAOK coming up in midweek.

So, the question ahead of Saturday’s game is not whether Bohs form is good or bad, but rather, can they carry their excellent Cup form into the more prosaic environs of league football?

Happily we can expect a positive approach from both teams and with all that positivity knocking about both sets of supporters will be anticipating victory rather than fearing defeat.

Referee: Graham Kelly

BETTING



Waterford 15/4; Draw 5/2; Bohemians 8/11

PREDICTION

Waterford 1-2  Bohemians

Waterford

Injured: Matt Connor, Daryl Murphy, Oscar Brennan

Doubtful: Eddie Nolan, Kyle Ferguson.

Suspended: Anthony Wordsworth.

Bohemians

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Promise Omochere (quad), Stephen Mallon (hip).

Suspended: None.

 

    About Simon O'Gorman

    Simon O'Gorman began reporting for Extratime in 2010. He remembers Milltown and Flower Lodge and, back in the mists of time, saw Diego Maradona play at Lansdowne Road. He now lives in Co Kildare and … View Full Profile