Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup – Second Round
Drogheda United -v- Waterford FC
Friday, August 24th, 2018
Kick Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Robert Harvey
Waterford FC return to Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup action this Friday evening with a trip to face promotion chasing Drogheda United in United Park.
The Blues come into the game after two wins in two weeks on the road. Last weekend, Alan Reynolds’ came away from The Brandywell with a 2-1 win against Derry City with goals from Dessie Hutchinson and Gavan Holohan ending a run of three successive league defeats.
The previous week, The Blues secured their passage to this Friday’s match with a 4-1 win away to Skerries Town.
Opponents Drogheda United have lost just once in the league at home this season and sit in the promotion play-off spots as they look for a return to the Premier Division. Tim Clancy’s side saw off Shamrock Rovers in the First Round with Chris Lyons’ penalty sealing a 1-0 win.
Waterford FC manager Alan Reynolds is looking forward to another tough game after last week’s win in Derry:
“I thought we were really good up in Derry and we deserved the three points. We started well and could have been a few goals up. We looked good on the attack and the overall performance was excellent. When you looked at the stand to see the number of Blues fans that travelled too, we knew what the win meant.
“Friday against Drogheda United will be a different kind of game. We’ve two wins on the bounce but we won’t be taking them lightly, that’s for sure.
“They’re pushing to get back into the Premier Division and they’ve beaten Shamrock Rovers in the last round so we know they’re a good side. We’ve prepared properly and we’re looking forward to getting back on the pitch.”
TEAM NEWS: The Blues will once again be without Cory Galvin (knee), Derek Daly (groin) and John Martin (ankle). Courtney Duffus returns but Sander Puri (groin) and Stanley Aborah (knee) are expected to miss out.
