Waterford FC welcome Sligo Rovers to the RSC on Friday evening, as Keith Long's side look to pick up their fourth consecutive home win in the league.
The Blues have enjoyed playing at home in recent weeks, with wins against Dundalk (4-1), Drogheda United (4-2), and most recently last Friday against Bohemians (2-1). After falling to defeat away to Derry City on Monday afternoon, Keith Long's side will look to return to winning ways against a Sligo side who have come into form in recent weeks.
The Blues now occupy fourth place in the standings after 19 games with 28 points to their name.
The loss to Derry on Monday was a set back, but the side has an immediate chance to put it right at the RSC. Club Captain Barry Baggley has been unavailable for selection for time time as he recovers from a back injury. He's been watching on from the stands in recent games and say's the squad should be able to bounce back from that result on Monday.
"It was a tough game, but I don't think the lads will be too disheartened. They're still a young squad and they're still learning. They're doing the best they can. The game against Sligo now is a big game because they've won two in a row and they've put themselves a bit up the table and they'll want to win to make that gap a little bit bigger between us two."
Waterford have won there last three home games on the spin, with their last loss at the RSC coming at the hands of Derry back in April, while the last time they shared points at home was with Galway when it remained scoreless.
"Nothing really between the teams [Waterford and Sligo] on both occasions if I'm being honest," said First Team Coach David Breen.
"Our home form over the last couple of games has been excellent. We played some really good football. The fans have gotten behind us which is really really good and hopefully, they'll do the same on Friday night because we need them and the players need them."
The Bit o'Red make the journey South on the back of two important wins over the June Bank Holiday weekend. John Russell's side picked up an impressive three points away to Shelbourne in Tolka Park on Friday night, before defeating Drogheda United at the Showgrounds on Monday afternoon.
Sligo narrowly defeated the Blues 1-0 at the RSC back in March, when Ellis Chapman's second-half goal proved the difference between the side, before Waterford reversed the score at the Showgrounds in May thanks to Christie Pattisson's early second-half strike. The visitors sit in sixth place in the league table on 25 points from 19 games played.
Barry Baggley & Maleace Asamoah both miss out on Friday's game through injury.
