SSE Airtricity League Premier Division
Waterford FC -v- Derry City
Friday, August 30th, 2019
Kick Off: 7:45pm
Referee: Neil Doyle
Waterford FC will look to build on a positive performance midweek as Derry City visit the RSC in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division.
The Blues go into Friday night’s game on the back of a 2-1 defeat against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night, but with a much improved performance from the heavy defeat the week previous.
Goals from Graham Cummins and Graham Burke saw the homeside take all three points, despite Dean O’Halloran pulling the sides level just before the break.
The Blues have seen a lot of Derry City recently; two trips in the league and EA Sports Cup both ended in defeats, but Derry’s last visit to the RSC in April saw a late Shane Duggan penalty earn a point for the Blues.
Managers View: Speaking to WaterfordFC.ie ahead of Friday’s game, manager Alan Reynolds said:
“We come into the [Derry City] game after an encouraging performance on Tuesday night in Tallaght Stadium. Going to Shamrock Rovers is never easy but we battled hard, kept our shape well and could have got a point late in the game.
“That was exactly the performance, work rate and heart that I wanted from the players. They spoke during the week together as a group of players and they knew they needed to up their game which they have done, so that’s what we need to bring into the game against Derry.
“We’ve seen a lot of Derry this season, with three trips there already this season, so it’s nice to be back at the RSC after the two away matches last week in Donegal and Dublin.
“We lost up there [in Derry] recently in the league and narrowly lost out in the EA Sports Cup semi-final so we want to try put that right. We have Derry and then Cork away on Monday so we’re keen to get points on the board.”
Team News: Rory Feely, Dean Walsh and Kenny Browne are injured, Cory Galvin is sick, while Karolis Chvedukas is suspended after his sending off midweek.
