Aiming to give their survival ambitions another significant boost, relegation-threatened Dundalk will welcome surprise package Waterford United to Oriel Park for a League of Ireland clash on Friday night.
The Lilywhites managed to secure a narrow 1-0 success over Sligo Rovers last time out, whilst the Blues were unable to earn any points from their meeting with current pacesetters Shelbourne.
Match preview
With the prospect of playing in the second tier of Irish football for the first time since 2008 starting them in the face, Dundalk recorded a vital three points on June 13, when Sligo Rovers visited Oriel Park and were undone by a moment of quality from a former Republic of Ireland international.
Following a goalless first period, ex-Wycombe Wanderers midfielder Daryl Horgan popped up with a decisive moment for the Lilywhites, and with youngster Sean Molloy keeping a clean sheet in the contest, the hosts were able to grind out their fourth win of the 2024 schedule.
Over the past four games, Dundalk have only tasted defeat to league leaders Shelbourne, collecting seven points from that quartet of matches, suggesting that a great escape from relegation could be on the cards should Jon Daly continue the transformation of his side's fortunes.
Despite an increase in positivity since a change in management last month, the Lilywhites' struggles to regularly find the net remain over the squad like a dark cloud, with Friday's hosts at Oriel Park bagging just 13 goals in 21 league matches so far, four fewer than any other outfit in the division.
That ratio of attacking prowess worsens when only taking into account home matches during 2024, with Dundalk only netting four goals in 10 contests at Oriel Park, but Daly's troops have only lost twice on home soil this term, meaning that Waterford should not expect a walkover.
After finishing second in the second tier during 2023 and securing promotion to the League of Ireland following his appointment in March last year, Keith Long's Waterford United are making great sides towards becoming a real force at the top table of Irish football this season.
The 50-year-old won his 31st competitive match for the Blues during his 57th game in charge on June 7 when the Blues smashed Sligo Rovers 4-1, but Friday's visitors to Dundalk are coming into this clash after a narrow defeat to the side who are steam rolling towards the league title.
Making waves since moving across the Irish sea from Championship club Hull City, Will Jarvis bagged his eighth goal of the League of Ireland campaign, breaching the net of Waterford goalkeeper Sam Sargeant to determine the recipients of maximum points at Waterford Regional Sports Centre.
Following their two-year hiatus from top-tier action, the Blues sit fourth in the 2024 League of Ireland standings, 12 points behind Friday's opponents Dundalk in ninth, meaning that an immediate relegation for Daly's side is not a realistic worry at this stage.
The jewel in Waterford's crown this season so far has been the goalscoring antics of Padraig Amond, who has returned to his homeland after a nomadic career in the lower leagues of England, with the 36-year-old netting 11 goals in 21 league matches, meaning that he leads the division's Golden Boot race.
Team News
Following George Shelvey's departure at the end of May, youngster Molloy has been trusted with a place in between the sticks for Dundalk, with Peter Cherrie waiting in the wings as a capable deputy.
Ross Munro was initially the keeper to take Shelvey's spot in the Lilywhites' XI, but the 24-year-old is currently out of action due to a muscle injury.
Already suffering issues in attacking areas, Dundalk were hit with a major injury blow earlier this month, with five-goal striker Jamie Gullan picking up a knock which forced him to miss the win over Sligo.
Waterford are also without the services of a key forward, with Fleetwood Town loanee Maleace Asamoah sustaining a fitness issue at the beginning of the month.
Rowan McDonald was replaced after just 30 minutes during the defeat to Shelbourne, with Niall O'Keeffe potentially being promoted to the XI for this one at the expense of the 22-year-old.
Despite failing to find the net last time out versus the league leaders, the Blues are likely to stick with a front three of Amond, Connor Parsons and Ben McCormack.
Dundalk possible starting lineup:
Molloy; Bradshaw, Johnson, Davies, Boyle, Muller; Benson, Doyle, Horgan, O'Kane; Elliott
Waterford United possible starting lineup:
Sargeant; Power, Horton, Radkowski, Leahy; Pattison, O'Keeffe, McMenamy; Parsons, Amond, McCormack
We say: Dundalk 1-2 Waterford United
Despite their lowly standing in the table, Dundalk are a tough nut to crack at Oriel Park and will provide Waterford with a difficult test on Friday night.
However, with leading marksman Gullan unlikely to be available for the Lilywhites, we envisage a defeat for the hosts as they face the division's leading marksman in Amond.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Carter White
