League Preview: Waterford -v- Wexford
Waterford have been in fine goalscoring form of late Credit: Gerry Shanahan (ETPhotos)
A massive First Division derby takes place at the RSC on Friday night at 7.45pm with the visit of in-form Wexford to neighbours Waterford FC.
WATERFORD
The home side have suffered the loss of top goalscorer Louis Britton- the former Bristol City frontman joining Cork City- but have added to their attacking ranks with the capture of Marseille Academy product Wassim Aouchria.
While the third place Blues are coming into the game on the back of a defeat to Galway United last weekend, previous to this they had picked up 8 wins in a row with veteran netminder Brian Murphy keeping three clean sheets in his past five games.
Speaking to his club’s media, Waterford boss Danny Searle said,
“Wexford picked up a good win over the weekend and haven’t lost in their last six matches so we know it will prove a battle between the sides and it’s one we’re looking forward to.
“We’ve had a busy last week with three games in eight days. We deservedly took wins against Bray Wanderers and away in Athlone. But as a group, we were bitterly disappointed with Friday’s result in Galway.
“We have eight wins from our last nine games so we’re in good form and need to get back to that. It’s easy to forget the good run after a defeat but we’ve got the lads in for recovery and a good week of training so they’re eager to put things right this week.”
WEXFORD
The Slaneysiders are on their best unbeaten run in the league since Shane Keegan’s promotion winning season of 2015 with three wins and three draws in their last six games.
The experienced attacking trio of Aaron Dobbs, Dinny Corcoran and Conor Davis have been scoring regularly for Ian Ryan’s men while Jack Doherty has been in sparkling form pulling the creative strings with the Ferrycarrig men scoring an average of 2 goals over the past half dozen games.
New additions, striker Ger Shortt and ex UCD midfielder Eoin Farrell are eligible to make their debuts at the RSC where Wexford were defeated in front of a crowd of over 1,800 in March.
Referee: Mark Moynihan
MATCH STATS
Phoenix Patterson has scored three times against Wexford in the league this season- the attacker has a total of twelve goals this season in total and is the current top scorer in the First Division.
Waterford are the highest scorers in the league over the past eight matches with an average of 3 goals per game.
Wexford’s Alex Moody is the youngest goalkeeper to record a clean sheet in the First Division this season with the Newbridge teenager not turning 20 until August
PREDICTION
Waterford 1-1 Wexford
Waterford
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Yassine En- Neyah
Wexford
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
