Getting the Show on the Road

Above - John Mahon celebrating his late equaliser in the 3-3 draw with Dundalk last month alongside debutant Will Johnson. 

That previous clash with Dundalk was only a few weeks ago, but a lot has happened in the meantime. Jon Daly was sacked on the Saturday, David Breen and Brian Murphy took charge for this Bank Holiday Monday match and Graham Coughlan was appointed on the Wednesday. The Blues were winless and nine points behind ninth-placed Sligo Rovers. That gap is down to a more manageable five now with two wins on the board. 

Waterford's first trip to Oriel Park this season is still infuriating to remember. Playing badly and 2-0 down to the newly-promoted side back in March, the Blues completely collapsed after a long injury delay, conceding goals in the 87th, 91st and 98th minutes to lose 5-0. Avenging that humiliation should be a motivating factor for the players this Friday.

The home game against Ciaran Kilduff’s Lilywhites was a turning point. The team showed character to fight back from two goals down and level it with goals from the dynamic duo of Tommy Lonergan and Pádraig Amond. We seemed destined for more heartbreak when Daryl Horgan restored Dundalk’s lead as late as the 83rd minute, but Mahon brought us back to parity just five minutes later. It was a great point in the circumstances and could be very important by the end of the season.

The Blues still only have two points away from home this season in ten games so, obviously, that needs to change and quickly. Daly picked up one of those points (the 1-1 draw against Bohs at Dalymount Park) while Coughlan got the other when Benny Couto rescued a draw in Drogheda.

 

The recent 3-3 draw in Drogheda was one of only two points gained on the road

Graham has only been in charge for three away games to date. There was the 4-1 defeat to St Pat’s just two days into his tenure when we took the lead through Mahon again, but were wiped out in the second half. Then there was that agonising 2-1 defeat in Tolka Park with the very last kick of the game and, most recently, that crazy draw in Drogheda before the mid-season break.

Dundalk are the form team in the division so it will be very difficult. They’ve won their last three games and their last two home games were a 1-0 win against Shamrock Rovers and 2-1 v Derry City. The league’s Player of the Month for May, Daryl Horgan, has scored three goals against Waterford this season. So has Northern Ireland U21 international Eoin Kenny, while former Blue Gbemi Arubi is one of the hottest properties in the country right now with a lot of reported interest from UK clubs.

The Blues were a little flat in the 2-0 loss to Shamrock Rovers last week so Coughlan will want a much-improved showing on Friday. This is the final game before the transfer window opens so players will want to stake their claims for the rest of the season.

Dundalk have played great football this year and matched most teams with their passing and control of the game. They like teams to come out and okay against them so Waterford’s more direct style under Coughlan might cause them a different problem with an emphasis on getting the ball into the box as quickly and often as possible.

With just fifteen fixtures remaining, and the transfer window around the corner, the Blues need to start picking up points on the road as well as at home. It’s time to bring the heat to Oriel Park on Friday and come away with three points.