Longford Town v Derry City

**Terry Phelan** · 23/04/2004, 3:42 PM

Any news on the team playing tomorrow night,Paisley back yet?

**Terry Phelan** · 24/04/2004, 2:35 PM

PREVIEW Town eye mid-table respectability

April 24, 2004

Despite going into the weekend just one place off the bottom and with just one win to their credit, Longford Town can regain some respectability by taking a victory over Derry City at Flancare Park tonight (Saturday, 7.30pm), a result which would be enough to lift them to join-fifth in the Premier Division table.

Town are behind all of Cork City, St Patrick�s Athletic and Derry on Saturday morning, but such is the tight nature of things in the top flight that three points this evening would lift Alan Matthews�s side to a more satisfactory mid-table slot, behind Bohemians on goal difference alone.

Derry themselves can aspire to a similar leap up the table if they can follow up draws with Bohs and Cork and a victory over Dublin City with another three points tonight.

That would see them leap from seventh to fourth, just three points off second-placed Waterford.

It has been Longford�s home form that has held them back this season to date - the midlanders have yet to win at Flancare Park, taking just a point from Cork and shipping two-goal defeats at the hands of both Bohs and Pats.

Derry�s season has been very much a mixed bag, combining the good - a 2-0 away victory over Dublin City as part of their current three-match unbeaten run - with the awful, as witnessed in lifeless defeat in Drogheda earlier this month.

Striker Alan Murphy is a doubt for the Candystripes, so manager Gavin Dykes could opt to keep an unchanged side from that which drew with Cork a week ago, with Gary Beckett and Mark Farren in attack, although Michael Holt - who scored the last-minute penalty to save a point on that occasion - will hope to have done enough to warrant inclusion from the start this time around.

Town have doubts over defensive pair Stephen Paisley and Graham Gartland, who are suffering from thigh and groin injuries respectively. Brian McGovern should replace Paisley if necessary at the heart of the back four, while Sean Prunty would be a candidate to step in for Gartland at right back, with regular right full Alan Murphy having been designated to a new role in central midfield from last week.

Manager Alan Matthews made five changes to his side last week, alterations which reaped an instant dividend in the shape of a vastly-improved performance in taking the game to, and drawing with, leaders Shels.

Dessie Baker was a key player on that occasion when restored to an attacking berth, and he should again partner Sean Francis up front tonight.

Read more (www.elevenaside.com)

**sorbothegreek** · 26/04/2004, 9:05 AM

Well people,
From the limited reports i got that sounded much better. If anyone could tell us who played well and who didn't. And the word on the strikers, Francis and an-other from here, yea?

**the 12 th man** · 26/04/2004, 9:20 AM

according to the sunday indo dessie baker had a great game .called the shots up front and had a major hand in the goal.

**Xlex** · 26/04/2004, 9:35 AM

well I was delighted. Had a quick nip and everything was rosey.

Francis and Baker did the business and but for Bakers hesitation and Francis stripping paint of the crossbar we would have scored more. We should have scored a second half goal to credit the performance.

Digger had little ball in the hand and most of the distribution originated from the full backs which denyed long ball oppertunities from Barry and McGovern, who were solid. Perhaps more confidence in Dillo on the right and Prunty.

Baker brought Francis, Prunty and Brian Byrne right into the game and Seanie's control and willingness to be available brought the midfielders into it.

Murph and Kirbs played well but really this derry didn't ask much of them. Derry are limited.

**max power** · 26/04/2004, 9:42 AM

at last an up beat report about a game, so are we in for a good perfromance in drog on fri or was that a flash in the pan.....

i believe a certain former no. 9 was in a bit of trouble on sat and was dropped from the bench before the game ??????

**nesovic** · 26/04/2004, 10:17 AM

well somehow i doubt this former number 9 was even ging to be on the bench!!

**Xlex** · 26/04/2004, 10:24 AM

Lavine, sling your hook.

Over on the derry board, they reckon they should have us slaughtered... To be fair they started brightly but all they had apart from hitting the crossbar was half chances.

**max power** · 26/04/2004, 10:25 AM

well we don't like rumours on the boards and was said before, but some one from section O was telling me all about it yesterday.......lets just say he "hasbeen" a bold boy

**nesovic** · 26/04/2004, 10:32 AM

It's common knowlege to everyone there is s**t going on between matthews and lavine for ages!! so i don't know why your surprised to hear he was a "bold boy"!!
and if you ask me it's eric who' s putting in for it himself!

**max power** · 26/04/2004, 10:34 AM

on a seperate note was there a camera at the game on sat ??? i want to get a hard copy of the goal

**max power** · 26/04/2004, 10:40 AM

no its juat in pre season he seemed very bright and fit as well, just thought he could prove us all wrong this season, had a look at the finn harps play off ame last week and having the old lavine back would be an asset to the club no matter what you think of him....

**Xlex** · 26/04/2004, 10:45 AM

Originally Posted by max power

the old lavine back would be an asset to the club no matter what you think of him....

It's an old Lavine we have...

He took for granted the goodwill he got in Longford. He's history.

**Xlex** · 26/04/2004, 10:52 AM

on a separate point who did Francis go straight to and celebrate with?

**nesovic** · 26/04/2004, 10:54 AM

definately........
anyone who did have time for him now think different, he took to much for granted and made a laugh of it!!

**nesovic** · 26/04/2004, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by Xlex

on a separate point who did Francis go straight to and celebrate with?

maybe im wrong but did he run to the dugout??

**Xlex** · 26/04/2004, 10:57 AM

no your right. I'd say Matthews and the side were under a bit of pressure.

**max power** · 26/04/2004, 11:14 AM

well sucess breeds pressure, i wasn't his biggest fan last season but he a hard worker and we need them.....on lavine, bye bye....spend his wages on a midfielder

**Macy** · 26/04/2004, 12:03 PM

Originally Posted by max power

well sucess breeds pressure, i wasn't his biggest fan last season but he a hard worker and we need them.....on lavine, bye bye....spend his wages on a midfielder

Francis was top scorer last season FFS (without even starting a hell of a lot of games), and Lavine has been past it for two years (at least). Personally, I blame the committee for not biting Derry's hand off when they came in for him willing to pay �30,000. Even if he was still doing okay (debatable), that was great money for someone the wrong side of 30...

**Maz** · 26/04/2004, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by Macy

Francis was top scorer last season FFS (without even starting a hell of a lot of games), and Lavine has been past it for two years (at least). Personally, I blame the committee for not biting Derry's hand off when they came in for him willing to pay �30,000. Even if he was still doing okay (debatable), that was great money for someone the wrong side of 30...

I'd say they're kicking themselves now too givin his attitude an all!!