On Friday evening, Dundalk host Waterford at Oriel Park in the Irish Premier Division, as the home team looks to move to second place in the table.
Despite currently being third-place in the Irish Premier Division, Dundalk’s recent league form has been inconsistent. In fact, they head into this clash on the back of just one win in their previous four league outings.
📸 FAI Cup | @DundalkFC 1-0 Waterford #CmonTheTown 2/3 pic.twitter.com/8cbsiKlrfn— Ciaran Culligan (@cul7) August 12, 2020
📸 FAI Cup | @DundalkFC 1-0 Waterford #CmonTheTown 2/3 pic.twitter.com/8cbsiKlrfn
They recorded a 1-0 victory over Friday night’s opponents last time out in the Irish Cup on Tuesday. The pair only had to wait a few days to renew acquaintances.
One of Dundalk’s recent strengths in the Irish top-flight is their home record. The home side are unbeaten in 24 home matches in the league, having recorded 20 wins. Their last defeat on home soil in the Irish top-flight was at the end of August 2018.
Dundalk’s solid defensive displays have been one of the main reasons that they have achieved such good results on home soil, as they have kept clean sheets in ten of their last 12 league games at Oriel Park.
Waterford are enjoying a steady campaign so far this season and would move level on points with the home team by winning this clash. A goalless home draw with Cork City last time means the visitors are unbeaten in three league games.
The Cork game followed a familiar low-scoring trend for City in the league of late, as five of their last six games in the Irish Premier Division have produced under 2.5 goals.
Waterford’s recent away form has been impressive, as the visitors have now won five of their last six Irish Premier Division matches while keeping clean sheets in three of their previous four leagues games on their travels.
Forebet predicts that Dundalk will end Waterford’s recent good away form by recording a victory in a low-scoring encounter.