Cork City will look to boost their hopes of survival in the Irish Premier Division as they travel to Waterford RSC to take on eighth-placed Waterford FC on Friday night.
It’s been a tough campaign for Cork City after winning the Irish First Division title last season, as they currently sit bottom of the Premier Division table after picking up just 15 points from their opening 23 matches.
Ger Nash’s visitors are currently in the midst of a 13-game winless run in the Irish top flight (W0-D6-L7), and saw their two-game unbeaten run come to an end last time out as they were beaten 3-1 away at champions Shelbourne.
Cork were also in action on Tuesday night, taking on Celtic in the inaugural Cork Super Cup, with a late Colby Donovan goal giving The Hoops a 1-2 victory and landing an 11/10 winner for our man Kevin Mac.
Waterford also come into this clash off the back of an away defeat, as they were thrashed 7-2 at second-placed Derry City.
Ex-Accrington Stanley boss, John Coleman, has seen his side now win just one of their previous eight matches in the Irish top flight (W1-D3-L4), but The Blues have lost only one of their last six in front of their supporters (W3-D2-L1).
How the bookies view it: Blues bookmakers favourites
Waterford have been installed as favourites to claim all three points here, with BoyleSports pricing them at 5/6.
The same firm has Cork at 5/2 to end their 13-match winless run in the Irish top flight, whilst the draw is 11/4.
Head to head: Home advantage counts
These two sides have faced off twice in the league this season, with both claiming 2-1 victories at home.
Players to watch: Padraig to pounce
Padraig Amond is the Irish Premier Division’s joint top-scorer with 10 goals this season. The veteran forward scored a brace in their thrashing at Derry City last time out, and appeals at 11/10 at Bet365 to score in a fifth consecutive home match for The Blues.
Kitt Nelson is Cork City’s joint-top scorer in the Irish top flight this term with five goals. The youngster scored at Shelbourne on their last league clash and is 15/4 at Bet365 to get on the scoresheet for the second consecutive league outing.
Predicted line-ups:
Waterford will be without long-term absentees Kacper Radkowski and Matty Smith.
Ger Mash will be unable to call on Benny Couto, Connor Drinan and Ruari Keating through injury, whilst centre back Charlie Lyons is suspended following his red card at Shelbourne.
Waterford FC: Wade, Burke, Boyle, Leahy, Horton, Olayinka, Glenfield, Noonan, McDonald, Lonergan, Amond
Cork City: Brann, Mbeng, Kelleher, Kiernan, Crowley, Bolger, Murray, Nelson, Anderson, Maguire, Nolan
Anything else catch the eye?
Cork City are the Both Teams to Score kings in the Irish Premier Division this season, with an impressive 19/23 (83%) of their league matches producing goals at both ends, but that pair just 8/13 at home.
BTTS & Over 2.5 Goals has also paid out in 8/11 (73%) of Cork’s road trips this term – including in each of their past five – and given this has been a winning selection in Waterford’s previous four and seven of their last 10 at home, the 21/20 at BoyleSports for a repeat appeals to me here.
John Coleman’s hosts have found the back of the net in each of their last six at home, scoring 2+ goals in four (67%) of them – including in each of their last three – and I also like the look of them bagging another double at home against a Cork defence that has shipped multiple goals in each of their previous five road trips, and in 8/11 (73%) overall.
GambleAware