Waterford United, currently bottom of the League of Ireland Premier Division, will host Sligo Rovers on Friday evening, with Graham Coughlan's side looking to secure a much-needed win. The Blues have only managed to gather 11 points from their 19 league matches this season, leaving them eight points behind ninth-placed Sligo. Waterford's defensive record has been a major concern, conceding 40 times, while they have only managed to post one win - a 2-1 success over Drogheda on May 18. The team will enter this match off the back of a pulsating 3-3 draw against Drogheda, with Benny Couto netting late to secure a share of the spoils. Tommy Lonergan, the team's top goalscorer this season, will continue in the final third of the field, alongside 38-year-old Padraig Amond, who has three goals to his name during the current campaign. Sligo Rovers, on the other hand, have picked up eight points from their nine matches on the road this term, but they are the lowest goalscorers on their travels in this season's League of Ireland Premier Division, finding the back of the net on just six occasions. John Russell's side will be without the services of Jad Hakiki, Seb Quirk, and Conor Reynolds due to injury, while Archie Meekison is also a doubt. Waterford United will be looking to capitalize on their home advantage, having only lost two of their nine home league matches this season, drawing six times in the process. The Blues have a slight edge in the overall head-to-head record between the two sides, posting 21 wins to Sligo's 20, while 16 of their 57 games throughout history have finished level. Sligo were victorious in the last match between the two sides in April, recording a 2-0 win, and they are unbeaten against Waterford since February 2025 - a run of five games. Waterford United's possible starting lineup could feature McMullan, Johnson, Cann, Mahon, Long, Couto, Heeney, McMenamy, Noonan, Lonergan, and Amond, while Sligo Rovers' possible starting lineup could feature Sargeant, Denham, McElroy, Blaney, and Esua. The match is set to be a closely contested encounter, with both teams looking to secure a vital win in their pursuit of climbing the League of Ireland Premier Division table.