Crucial games are arriving fast and frequently for Galway United, and tomorrow’s United Park encounter with Drogheda United can certainly be classed in that category.
Throughout the years Galway United have struggled to obtain positive results from their trips to the banks of the Boyne, and though Drogheda might not possess the calibre of old a strenuous 90 minutes awaits tomorrow.
Hard working, physical, and determined Drogheda will keep all opponents honest this term. That is a near guarantee for any outfit managed by Alan Matthews so Galway must match Drogs’ zeal.
Drogheda’s combative midfield du Paul Shiels and Paul Crowley are capable of making tackles and controlling the tempo so Galway must be gritty. Tuesday’s loss to Bohemians ensures Galway are anxious to pocket some kind of dividend in order to edge closer to their first series according to manager Ian Foster. “We’re confident we are in a bit of form and we’re confident we can pick up points. The lads have targets to reach for every nine games, we haven’t quite got to ours yet, but we still have three games in this round to go and I’m confident we can get there. Teams are taking points off each other, it’s a very difficult division to stay in and pick up points.”
And Foster was quick to dismiss the notion that playing three matches in a week would be used as an excuse. “Tiredness doesn’t creep into it at all. We’re a fit bunch of lads, we’re young boys. If these lads want to progress and play, particularly over the water, then you’re looking at games Saturday, Tuesday – that’s no excuse whatsoever. There’s plenty of rest time between Friday and Tuesday, that doesn’t come into it at all.”
Considering United have been so solid thus far in 2009 Foster was perturbed by the concession of two sloppy goals against the Gypsies. “You’ve got to take each game on its merits and we actually played some decent stuff. Unfortunately we gave the champions two goals and you can’t really gift any team in this league two goals, never mind the champions who keep the ball. But I was actually pleased with the performance, they were just two sloppy goals.”
It is a mark of Galway’s improvement and expectation that a victory is craved in Louth. The importance of Garry Breen and Shane Guthrie’s force will be evident against a robust Drogheda outfit, and if they are solid, Galway can oblige.
