Blues welcome bottom of the table Dundalk to the RSC
Waterford's Niall O'Keeffe and Dundalk's Robbie Benson battling it out when these sides met at the RSC in 2022. Photo: Inpho.
After a brilliant weekend where the Blues had back-to-back away wins in Sligo and at champions Shamrock Rovers, Waterford FC are back at home in the RSC on Friday night when Keith Long's side welcome Dundalk FC in SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.
The Blues come into Friday’s game on the back of a perfect Bank Holiday weekend where they picked up maximum points away to both Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers.
An early second-half Christie Pattisson goal proved the difference between the Blues & Sligo in the Showgrounds on Friday evening, before Waterford romped to an impressive three-one victory over reigning champions Shamrock Rovers on Monday afternoon, with the Blues goals coming from a Leon Pohls own-goal, Dean McMenamy and a stunning Connor Parsons second-half strike.
Buoyed by over 350 Blues supporters in attendance in Tallaght on Monday, the Blues now present the best away record in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division in 2024 – with 14 out of our 19 points coming on the road this year.
The Blues now occupy sixth position in the league table after 14 games.
The visitors make the journey to the RSC on Friday on the back of a narrow 2-1 defeat to Louth rivals Drogheda United in Weavers Park on Monday afternoon. A late 94th-minute Hayden Cann strike proved the difference between the sides, after Jamie Gullan had equalised for the Lilywhites with 12 minutes remaining.
New Dundalk boss Noel King had picked up five points in the three games before the Drogheda game (0-0 away to Shelbourne, 2-0 win against Bohemians and 1-1 away to Sligo), and will come to the RSC looking to close the gap at the bottom of the table.
The Lilywhites currently occupy bottom place in the league table, after a tough start to the 2024 season – sitting on nine points from their opening 14 games.
Captain Barry Baggley is still a number of weeks away (lower back). Ryan Burke (knee) will be assessed in training.
Harvey Macadam is available after missing last Friday’s trip to Sligo, along with Kacper Skwierczyński who is available for selection having missed the last few weeks through injury.
“We want to build consistency and ensure our performance levels are of a high standard every week. We are at home and want to be positive in our approach to the game. Dundalk are a very capable team with some really good players. We have prepared as best we can after Monday’s game and are looking forward to the challenge that Dundalk will provide us.”
