27 days after their last game in the League Of Ireland first division, Waterford FC return to action this evening.
Bray come to the RSC for what will be Danny Searle's first game in charge and Bray will pose a unique challenge for the London native.
Whats happened since the last game?
The last time the team lined out for a competitive game it was a 4-0 home thumping of Treaty United. Before the extended mid-season break, the club were celebrating six consecutive wins and a return to the form that had been expected at the start of the season.
The interim management team of Gary Hunt and David Breen remain in situ as part of Searle's backroom team and will be hoping to maintain an influence over the squad who had finally found their feet.
This evening's game has been coloured by the news that the club was potentially up for sale. The club's owner Richard Forrest quickly reacted to the story which was initially reported by The42 saying that "Any significant changes that affect Waterford FC will be communicated to you [the supporters] in a timely and respectful manner.
Off-field matters aside, attention should remain on the pitch with chaotic Bray coming to town. They have only won one game in their last 13 and have been mired by fan unrest in more than one game.
Never seen this in my life but just sums up the whole toxic environment at @BrayWanderers, surely this is the end for Pat Devlin now no way he can come back from this. Even went at fans with nothing to do with anything so sad to see things like this 😔 pic.twitter.com/SVxO3ZYBqX
— Owen (@Owene2220) May 2, 2022
The League Leaders
While the Blues have been waiting for their return, the teams they need to catch have been in action. Both Cork and Galway have played a game with the Leesiders drawing 1-1 with Longford and John Caulfields Galway notching a 5-1 win over Waterford's upcoming visitors Bray. That win for Galway moved them to the top of the standings with a one-point lead over Cork.
The gap to the Blues in third now sits at nine points, but Waterford do have a game in hand on both of the leaders.
The New Manager
Speaking to WLR Sport following his appointment Searle said that the ambition was to get promoted, and fingers crossed it would happen without the need for a playoff. After having his bedding-in period, the manager was content with the work that has been done so far.
The former Aldershot boss told WLR that "sometimes you come into a new environment and peoples confiednce is on the floor, but it's quite the opposite here. I think from my persepctive we've made some subtlte changes to the tempo in training so that going into the final half of the season we're hitting it all guns blazing."
The fact that the team have gone so long without a competitive game was always going to be a cause for concern, and indeed it is one that Searle has on his mind. A couple of hit out friendlies are better than nothing, but ultimately nothing will replicate the intensity of a league game. Searle is hoping that his team show the positives of the break rather than the possible negatives.
"It can go one of two ways. We can look fresh and well rested, or we can look short of match fitness. You can replicate what you want in training. You can do in-house games and you can play friendlies, but it's never the same. All I can go by is their effort and their workrate in training and since I've been int he building, it's been spot on".
If Waterford FC are to make the surge up the table, it needs to start this evening. Victory against Bray would put a tick in the win column ahead of the trip to Athlone on Monday, and then all eyes are once again on the RSC next Friday when the current league leaders Galway make the trip South.
Kick off this evening at the RSC is at 7.45 pm.
