Both Treaty United and Cork City haven’t been sharp in front of goal so far this season, and they’ll be looking to improve this when the Munster sides face off at 7.45 tonight.
With three goals each in four games, one of the two will have to up their goalscoring game if they wish to grab all three points at Markets Field.
For United, there hasn’t been a single loss so far this term, but there have been draws aplenty. Stalemate against Bray, Cobh, and Galway; haven’t exactly made this season a thriller for the fans. Though, as draws go, a stoppage time equaliser from Galway’s Wilson Waweru made the last match very painful.
Manager Tommy Barrett will also be looking to cut red cards out of his sides game. Three dismissals in four matches, is an impressive stat. It also begs the question, could Treaty have more points on the board if they’d had more men on the field?
Cork City know plenty about red cards themselves. Striker Jack Walsh’s 32nd minute sending off in the Rebels last match was the icing on the top of a very bad cake. After Dylan McGlade gave them hope from the spot, it was downhill.
Colin Healy’s men slumped to their third loss in a row in dismal fashion with a 3-1 loss at home to Shelbourne. This wasn’t the start that they would have wanted, after relegation from the Premier Division last season.
City will also be looking for a change in the coaching team in the weeks to come. It was announced in Healy’s pre-match press conference, that assistant manager John Cotter will be leaving the club at the end of the month to work with the FAI.
While it doesn’t look on paper like it will be a thriller, Cork and Treaty will be raring to end their poor spell in front of goal. Perhaps the frustrations of both sides spilling out onto the pitch will create an intense and entertaining affair. Fans can at least hope that will be the case.
Jon Parkin
A master's journalism student at Birmingham City University. Jon Parkin has done interviews with numerous people from across the English football pyramid. He has also written for website My Old Man Said for over a year and a half.