SSE Airtricity First Division
Longford Town -v- Waterford FC
Friday, 22nd September 2023
Kick-Off: 7.45pm
Referee: Ray Matthews
Waterford FC are back on the road with a trip to face Longford Town this Friday in Bishopsgate.
Tickets can be purchased here now.
The sides have met three times this season with all three matches ending in draws. Matches in the RSC ended 2-2 and 1-1, while the meeting between the sides in Bishopsgate ended scoreless.
Last weekend saw the Blues fall to defeat to third-placed Cobh Ramblers – the game finishing 2-0 despite the Blues creating goal scoring chances.
The game is the Blues fifth-last of the league season before the play-offs begin – with 18 wins in the league this season so far.
Opponents Longford Town were held to a scoreless draw away to Kerry FC in their last league match, before a friendly defeat last weekend.
Longford sit 6th in the league table, four points outside of the play-offs. The Blues remain second.
From The Dugout: Speaking ahead of Friday’s match, head coach Keith Long said:
“Last week was a tough one and it was difficult to accept the performance [v Cobh]. We had chances in the first half but the goals we conceded were really poor goals.
“We’ve got five games to play before we go into any play-offs so we’re working hard to ensure we’re in form going into it, in terms of how the team plays, how we operate and getting some more players back from injury.
“Longford is always a tough one. We haven’t beaten Longford this season and go up there knowing we need to be prepared for a difficult game, and looking to improve on last week’s performance.”
Team News: Christie Pattisson (injury) and Ryan Burke (suspension) both return, while Harry Nevin, Barry Baggley, Rowan McDonald and Ronan Coughlan all continue their recovery from injury layoffs.