Blues v Drogheda United Preview

Having faced the challenge of Mason Melia last week, the Blues defence will have to cope with another Irish Under 21 striker this week. Warren Davis will spend next week in Zagreb having been called up to Jim Crawford’s squad for the first time for friendlies against Croatia and Qatar. The Dubliner, who only turned 20 last month, has scored six Premier Division goals already this season including Drogheda’s first in the 2-0 win over Waterford in early April.

Kevin Doherty utilises a system with three centre halves and two wing backs, usually with a ‘triangle’ in midfield and two up front. Conor Keeley has been a rock in the middle of a stingy defence while much of their success in the past twelve months has come from that midfield trio with Ryan Brennan, Shane Farrell and, in recent games, Luke Heeney instead of Darragh Markey. Douglas James-Taylor’s addition to the team in last summer’s transfer window not only saved United from relegation, but propelled them into Europe. He has now returned to the forward line in place of former Blue Thomas Oluwa.

 

Kevin Doherty in his Waterford United days in 2005

 

Drogheda have been the surprise package of the season, but they’ve shown no signs of fading and remain in second place in the table approaching the halfway stage. It will be interesting to see if their upcoming Europa League campaign affects their league form or if they continue to defy preseason expectations with one of the smallest budgets in the division. 

Their away form has slipped in recent games though with just two points from their last four fixtures on the road. The Drogs won away to Bohemians, Shelbourne and Derry City early in the season (results that Waterford have matched), but their last four away results have been losses to Galway (2-1) and Shamrock Rovers (3-0) as well as draws with Sligo and Shels. Waterford will hope to add to recent home wins against Derry and Galway and a decent showing against Rovers in the last outing at the RSC.

Both teams will be confident after good results last week. The Blues were excellent in Richmond Park with most viewers feeling the 2-2 draw flattered St Pat’s in the end. Drogheda drew 0-0 in Tolka Park last Monday in a game brought forward because of European commitments and then beat Bohs 1-0 at home on Friday night. Two more clean sheets with just a penalty kick scored, but four good points on the board. They rode their luck against Bohs who hit the woodwork twice and had a goal disallowed for a questionable offside. 

 

The sides played out a drab scoreless draw at the RSC last October (Noel Browne)

 

John Coleman still has to make do without Andy Boyle or Kacper Radkowski at the back and Trae Coyle or Matty Smith in attack. Rowan McDonald did very well as a makeshift centre back last week and will probably continue there, although his lack of pace could be exploited on the big RSC pitch. The midfield group of Olayinka, Glenfield, White and Noonan has excelled in recent matches while Tommy Lonergan is a man reborn over the last month with goals against Bohs and Pat’s added to energetic performances. 

A year ago this week, the RSC witnessed the stunning 4-2 comeback win against Drogheda live on Virgin Media when Pádraig Amond scored a thirteen-minute hat-trick and Darragh Power completed the scoring. Both sides are much-changed since then with Waterford likely to field four of their starting eleven from that night and the visitors probably only Heeney and Brennan.

When the fixture list came out, Drogheda at home was a game that Blues fans would have hoped to chalk down for three points, but taking on the team second in the table feels a different challenge. We can certainly expect a contrasting approach to last month when Waterford never laid a glove on the hosts in that feeble 2-0 defeat in Drogheda. The Blues have restored pride since then with huge improvements in both displays and results. They will be confident that another big performance can carry them to a crucial three points before the midseason break.