Drogheda United -v- Galway United

• Emmet Maloney
• Thu, Apr 07 2011


Drogheda United will hope to put last weekend's rout at the hands of champions Shamrock Rovers behind them as they welcome fellow strugglers Galway United to Hunky Dory Park on Friday night for round six of the Airtricity Premier Division. (Kick off, 7.45pm)

It is perhaps a sad indictment of the league of Ireland that this game is viewed as a relegation six pointer only six weeks into the season. However due to the trying circumstances that both clubs found themselves in during the winter it is difficult to see anything but a season of hard toil ahead for both of them.

Both clubs can point to a difficult run of games where they have both faced up to the clubs that most observers agree will contest the top three places of the league this season. Neither team are setting the goal scoring charts alight with just two and three league goals respectively. However Galway do look to be getting tighter at the back conceding just a single goal in their last three games whilst Drogheda are becoming more porous with eight goals conceded in their last three outings.

Drogheda United manager Mick Cooke spoke exclusively to Extratime.ie with his thoughts on the eve of the match. “People are already saying that ourselves, Galway, UCD and Bray are going to be the bottom four teams but not only is it important to not get beaten by any of them, it’s important to try to pick up points against the top teams as well. That might then lift you up to mid table somewhere.”

“When we came in the lads weren’t fit enough to play the way I want them to play and we’ve been working on that. The lads are getting fitter and we just need a result now to boost their confidence.”

Galway United boss Sean Connor travels with the knowledge that a win is imperative for his side. "This is one of the games we need to win. Lots of other managers bemoan their budgets, but at the end of the day, ourselves and Drogheda have the smallest budgets in the league, so if we have any aspirations of staying in the league then this is a game that we have to win. We would have liked to have kept the run going against Sligo last Friday, but we just need to look ahead to Drogheda now and aim for the three points.”

Galway enjoyed their trips to Drogheda last season picking up four points and also gained a victory the season before so Sean Connor will be confident of heading back west with a positive result under his belt.

Drogheda:
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Alan McNally.
Suspended: None.

Galway United:
Injured: Gary Curran.
Doubtful: Alan Murphy (groin strain), Enda Curran (groin strain), Steve Feeney (ankle).
Suspended: None.

Referee: Paul Tuite.
Paddy Power odds: Drogheda United 13/8; Draw 23/10; Galway United 6/4.
Extratime prediction: 1-1.