Two League of Ireland Premier Division teams in the bottom half of the table do battle on Thursday night as Waterford United play host to Drogheda United.
While the hosts are seeking to claim back-to-back home wins for the first time since March, the visitors are still searching for their first away victory of the season.
Match preview
Since securing promotion from the second tier last season, Waterford have picked up 22 points from their first 16 games in this season's top flight and began the month of May with three successive victories over Sligo Rovers, Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.
However, their winning streak was brought to an end last Friday as they were beaten 1-0 away against league leaders Shelbourne, with Sean Boyd scoring the game's only goal midday through the second half.
Keith Long's side have subsequently slipped to sixth in the Premier Division after both Galway United and Bohemians claims maximum points last time out to leapfrog them in the table. Waterford will be keen to return to winning ways on Thursday as they bid to increase the seven-point gap that separates them from the bottom two.
The Hornets Yellow will be confident of success as they have won each of their last three meetings with Drogheda, including a 4-1 away victory in their most recent encounter in February.
Drogheda's poor form also bodes well for the visitors as the Drogs have come out on top in only three of their first 16 league games of the season, accumulating just four points from their last 15 available.
Kevin Doherty's men were seemingly on course to claim maximum points at home to Galway United last Friday as they were leading 2-1 heading into second-half stoppage time. However, two quick strikes from Maurice Nugent and Stephen Welsh - the latter netting in the 94th minute - turned the game on its head in dramatic fashion to condemn the hosts to their seventh defeat of the campaign.
After finishing seventh with 41 points last season, Drogheda find themselves languishing in ninth place in the 10-team table with only 15 points to their name this term, sitting three points above basement club Dundalk and three points behind Sligo Rovers in eighth.
Drogheda are desperate to put together a run of positive results, but that could prove challenging on Thursday as they are one of only two Premier Division sides who are yet to win away from home this season - losing five and drawing three of their eight games on the road.
Waterford can, however, take some inspiration from their last triumph over Waterford in May 2021 when they securing a thumping 7-0 away victory at the Regional Sports Centre.
Team News
Waterford duo Barry Baggley and Connor Evans both missed the defeat at Shelbourne last time out and are both doubtful to face Drogheda, while Kacper Skwierczynski and Adam Queally have both returned to training and could be fit to return to the matchday squad.
Maleace Asamoah scored a hat-trick in Waterford's last home match versus Dundalk and he is set to link up in attack with former Newport County striker Padraig Amond, who is hoping to end his seven-game goal drought.
As for Drogheda, Warren Davis was discharged from hospital last weekend after the teenager was stretchered off with a head injury against Galway United; the attacker is now facing a period on the sidelines due to concussion protocols.
Steve Zishim Bawa could be the man tasked with operating on the left flank, joining Adam Foley and Frantz Richard Pierrot, who has scored four goals in his last eight games, in a three-man attack.
Waterford United possible starting lineup:
Aargeant; Power, Radkowski, Horton, Leahy, McCourt; McDonald, McMenamy; Asamoah, Amond, Parsons
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
Wogan; Heeney, Quinn, Cann, Weir; Deegan, Brennan; Markey, Foley, Zishim Bawa; Pierrot
We say: Waterford United 2-1 Drogheda United
Taking into account the recent form of both teams as well as their most recent meeting earlier this year, Waterford will be regarded as favourites to come out on top on Thursday and should have few problems outscoring a Drogheda side that have failed to keep a clean sheet in each of their last nine games.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Oliver Thomas
