United face first six-pointer of the season

Date Published: 07-Apr-2011

Keith Kelly

Galway United will look to get their season back on the track when they travel to County Louth tonight to take on Drogheda United in what, even at this early stage of the season, is a real six-pointer for both clubs (kick-off 7.45pm).

A win will see United move onto seven points and cut Drogheda adrift at the foot of the table, and while a draw would not be the worst result in the world, in reality nothing less than a maximum return will be good enough if United want to drag themselves away from the foot of the table, something with manager Sean Connor agrees with.

“This is one of the games we need to win. Lots of other managers bemoan their budgets, but at the end of the day, ourselves and Drogheda have the smallest budgets in the league, so if we have any aspirations of staying in the league then this is a game that we have to win.

“We would have liked to have kept the run going against Sligo last Friday, but we just need to look ahead to Drogheda now and aim for the three points,” he said.

United stunned Bohemians in their last away game two weeks ago, Joseph Yoffe’s goal sealing a 1-0 win, but United have lost twice since then- a humiliating 3-1 defeat at home in the EA Sports Cup to non-league Cockhill Celtic, and a 1-0 reversal in the Connacht derby in Terryland Park last Friday.

United competed well against Sligo Rovers but were always second best against a side that moved into second in the table with the win. The lack of depth to the United squad was plainly evident in both of those recent defeats, and the resources at manager Sean Connor’s disposal will be sorely tested again tonight.

Gary Curran remains sidelined, having broken a bone in his foot in the draw with UCD last month, while Alan Murphy, Enda Curran and Steve Feeney are all doubtful for tonight’s match. Murphy felt a twinge in his groin against Sligo last Friday and he had some physiotherapy on the area this week, so there is a chance he will at least make the bench.

United took four points from a possible six from Hunky Dorys Park last season, and have lost just once in their last five visits Boyneside. If they are to move away from the foot of the table, they need to continue that run with a win tonight.