Shamrock Rovers will look to snap a five-match winless run when they host Waterford at Tallaght Stadium on Friday evening. The Hoops, second in the Premier Division with 56 points from 30 games, have not won since late August.
Their most recent outing was a 2-0 defeat away to St Patrick's Athletic last Friday. Jason McClelland opened the scoring in the fourth minute before Aidan Keena added a second just after the half-hour mark. That result extended a concerning sequence of form for Stephen Bradley's side, who have drawn three and lost two of their last five league fixtures.
Recent struggles
Rovers' recent results include a goalless draw with Shelbourne and a dramatic 3-3 stalemate away to Derry City. Their last victory came against Waterford themselves in a 2-0 away win back in June. The head-to-head record offers some encouragement, with the Dublin side unbeaten in the last three meetings, winning two and drawing one.
Waterford arrive in the capital sitting eighth in the table and are unbeaten in their last four matches. They have drawn their last two, including a 2-2 result with Derry City last Monday. Their lineup that night featured the likes of Padraig Amond and Thomas Lonergan in attack.
Team selection
Bradley is expected to consider changes after the flat performance at Richmond Park. His last starting eleven deployed a 3-5-2 formation with Evan McGinty in goal, a back three of Dan Cleary, Pico and Lee Grace, and Graham Burke partnering Maxi Noonan up front. Rory Gaffney, the club's top scorer this season with nine goals, will be pushing for a recall.
A positive result is vital for Rovers to maintain their grip on second place and keep pressure on the leaders. The match kicks off at 19:00 UTC on September 18.
