Waterford FC Jamu Shamrock Rovers di Stadion RSC

Pertandingan sengit bakal tersaji saat tim juru kunci Waterford FC menjamu pemuncak klasemen sekaligus juara bertahan Shamrock Rovers dalam lanjutan kompetisi SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division di Stadion RSC pada Jumat malam waktu setempat.

Tuan rumah berambisi melanjutkan tren positif di kandang demi memangkas selisih lima poin menuju zona aman setelah menggilas Sligo Rovers dengan skor telak 4-0 pekan lalu. Di sisi lain, tim tamu Shamrock Rovers yang mengoleksi 40 poin dari 21 laga bertekad bangkit usai menelan kekalahan 2-1 dari Shelbourne.

Manajer Waterford FC, Graham Coughlan, mengingatkan anak asuhnya untuk tetap membumi dan menjaga kepercayaan diri setelah meraih kemenangan besar pada pertandingan sebelumnya.

"Games like last week the euphoria can soon disappear, but it’s up to our lads now to go try and maintain that and build on it, and try carry it on. The squad is in a good place at this moment in time. That momentum can be built upon, or it can go the other way." ujar Graham Coughlan, Manajer Waterford FC.

Coughlan menegaskan bahwa menghadapi juara bertahan di hadapan pendukung sendiri akan menjadi ujian yang sangat bagus bagi perkembangan skuadnya.

"So it’s up to us to try and keep our feet on the ground, keep them level headed, and make sure they keep the confidence they’ve built up. We’ve got the massive hurdle of the champions coming to the RSC tomorrow night, probably the best team in Ireland over the last number of years. It’s a brilliant challenge for the group, and it’s one that the lads will be looking forward to" kata Graham Coughlan, Manajer Waterford FC.

Kondisi pincang harus dihadapi Waterford FC yang dipastikan tampil tanpa Evan McLoughlin, Finlay Armstrong, serta Cian Barrett yang absen akibat klausul peminjaman, sedangkan Shamrock Rovers kehilangan kapten Roberto Lopes yang sedang membela Tanjung Verde di Piala Dunia FIFA.

Pada laga lainnya di divisi yang sama, St Patrick’s Athletic dijadwalkan bertanding melawan Sligo Rovers di Richmond Park setelah sebelumnya sukses memetik poin penuh atas Drogheda United.

"I was pleased with the performance against Drogheda. Sligo have been tough opponents, they have had some good away wins. But from our point of view, we want to players to express themselves and try to get a good performance." tutur Stephen Kenny, Manajer St Patrick's Athletic.

Kenny juga menambahkan bahwa persaingan internal yang tinggi di dalam tim menjadi kunci utama untuk meraih kesuksesan di kompetisi yang sulit diprediksi ini.

"You can't predict any result in this division. We have to focus on playing well, competition for places is high which is what we want. That is the basis of a successful team." ucap Stephen Kenny, Manajer St Patrick's Athletic.

Sligo Rovers sendiri datang dengan kondisi yang kurang ideal akibat badai cedera dan sanksi larangan bertanding yang menimpa delapan pemain mereka.

"We've had time to prepare and set a game-plan. We know it'll be tough, they're very strong and I'd expect them to be there or thereabouts come October." sebut John Russell, Manajer Sligo Rovers.

Russell menuntut respons instan dari anak asuhnya untuk menyuguhkan performa yang jauh lebih berkarakter dibandingkan pekan lalu.

"We're asking the players for a much better performance than last week. We need to show personality, apply our ideas to the game and take our opportunities when they arrive." kata John Russell, Manajer Sligo Rovers.

Sementara itu, Bohemians bersiap menjamu Dundalk di Dalymount Park sebagai momentum untuk menebus kekalahan telak dari Derry City pada laga tandang sebelumnya.

"It's nearly four weeks since our last home game so we have been working hard all week because we want to put in a performance in front of our home fans and rectify the performance we gave in front of the fans that made the trip to Derry." ucap Alan Reynolds, Manajer Bohemians.

Reynolds meyakini pertandingan melawan Dundalk tidak akan berjalan mudah bagi timnya berkaca pada pertemuan terakhir kedua tim.

"But we know that won’t be easy against a Dundalk team who really made life difficult for us the last time they came to Dalymount, so we need to roll up our sleeves and show what we are made of." ujar Alan Reynolds, Manajer Bohemians.

Laga penutup pekan ini akan mempertemukan Galway United dan Derry City di Pearse Stadium, di mana tim tamu sedang berada dalam atmosfer positif usai meraih kemenangan.

"I can't throw enough credit at these players. Even when things weren't going our way and we were low, these boys come in every day and they keep working hard." ungkap Tiernan Lynch, Manajer Derry City.

Lynch memprediksi Galway United akan menerapkan permainan fisik, sehingga timnya harus siap meladeni pertarungan tersebut sebelum mengembangkan permainan.

"It's nice to see a little bit of a smile on their face now after getting that result." ucap Tiernan Lynch, Manajer Derry City.

Pernyataan tersebut menegaskan kesiapan Derry City untuk menjaga konsistensi demi bersaing di papan atas klasemen.

"Galway United want to turn this into a battle. Our job is to make sure we match their physically and then try and play" ungkap Tiernan Lynch, Manajer Derry City.