PREVIEW Pressure on Mons to do the business

PREVIEW Pressure on Mons to do the business

Monaghan United’s starting XI for Thursday night’s eircom League First Division clash with Dundalk at Oriel Park has the added pressure of knowing that they will be without a manager if they fail to pick up a point, after gaffer Bobby Browne said that he will resign if they fail to take anything from the game.

It has not been the best of weeks for the Ulster club as a feud has erupted between Browne and club secretary John O’Flanagan over the responsibility of registering players.

Monaghan were deducted three points by the eircom league disciplinary committee for fielding three ineligible players against Dublin City a fortnight ago, and are now bottom of the first division and face the possibility of seeking re-election to the league.

Although Browne does not accept responsibility for the mix-up, the Monaghan board seem to have made the manager the scapegoat.

The renewal of Jonathan Prizeman’s loan from Shamrock Rovers was not registered with the league in time, while two new signings, former Dundalk pair David Nicholl and Anthony Fennelly, were also deemed to be ineligible for the game.

Browne has only one injury worry ahead of their clash with neighbours Dundalk as he must plan without the influential Alan King, who is out of action for another couple of weeks with a hamstring strain.

Dundalk have only three wins to their credit all season and currently lie fourth from bottom in the division, although Lilywhites manager Trevor Anderson will be hoping that the arrival of Paul Marney will help bolster his midfield; the former St Pat’s player – no stranger to registration fiascos himself – is expected to make his debut tonight.

Stuart McClean could also return to the Dundalk defence after he missed last week’s 3-2 defeat to promotion hopefuls Kildare County.

Both managers will be hoping that the match is a little more exciting than their meeting in the league earlier in the season, when they played out a scoreless draw at Century Homes Park.


www.eleven-a-side.com