Waterford v Drogheda United Prediction and Betting Tip - Odds, H2H and Preview Predictions

Waterford v Drogheda United Prediction:

The League of Ireland Premier Division continues this weekend as Waterford host Drogheda in the opening game on Friday night. The hosts come into this fixture in 8th place with 22 points but have won four of their last eight games, but despite their position, they are closer to 2nd place, who are on 29 points, than they are to 9th place, which are on just 12.

Speaking of 2nd place, Drogheda enter this match in that position with 29 points after 18 games played. They are also on a strong run, having lost just one game in their last six. That said, Drogheda have played one more game than the majority of the teams below them, meaning the table might not entirely reflect their true standing at this point in the season.

Where to Watch

This match is being broadcast on League of Ireland TV with a kick-off time of 19:45 on Friday 30th May.

Key Stats:

• Waterford have the worst scoring record this season, managing just 18 goals so far
• Drogheda have conceded just 17 goals this season, the second best defensive record in the division
• Drogheda have drawn eight times this season already, the join most in the league

Waterford v Drogheda United Previews, Form and Players to Watch:

Waterford Preview:

After a very poor start to the season, which saw Waterford pick up only nine points from their first 11 games and face the real threat of a relegation battle, they now find themselves 10 points clear of the bottom two just six games later. This impressive turnaround has been driven by four wins and a draw, including significant victories against European football contenders Derry and Bohemians. However, they are without a win in their last two games, having lost to table-toppers Shamrock a fortnight ago before drawing 2-2 with St. Patrick's Athletic in their most recent outing. Waterford will be hoping for a win on Friday to extend their gap from the relegation zone and potentially push towards the European spots.

Predicted Line Up (4-3-1-2): McMullan; Horton, McDonald, Leahy, Burke; Glenfield, Olayinka, White; Noonan; Amond, Lonergan

Despite Waterford's struggles in front of goal this season, having only scored 18 times, striker Pádraig Amond has still managed to make a notable impact. He has already contributed 5 goals and 1 assist so far this term. Last season, Amond racked up 16 goal contributions and will be hoping for a strong second half of the campaign to match or even surpass that tally.

Drogheda United Preview:

After winning the relegation play-offs last year to stay in the league, Drogheda find themselves in no danger of relegation this season. They are currently only six points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers and a comfortable 17 points clear of the bottom two. However, their form has dipped recently following an impressive first half of the season, as they have won just twice in their last nine league fixtures. A more consistent run during that period could have seen them challenging Shamrock for top spot.

Predicted Line Up (3-4-1-2): Dennison; Quinn, Keeley, Bolger; Lambe, Farrell, Brennan, Kane; Markey; Davis, Oluwa

One player who has been exceptional for Drogheda this season is defender Conor Keely. His performances have been a key factor in why they have the second-best defensive record in the division. The 27-year-old has impressed with a Sofascore rating of 7.42 for the season and has also chipped in with four goals, adding an extra threat at set-pieces.

Head-to-Head Stats - Waterford v Drogheda United

With the League of Ireland format allowing teams to play each other more than twice a year, these two sides have met five times in the last 18 months. During this period, the results have been very even, with both Drogheda and Waterford managing two wins apiece, along with one draw. These head-to-head stats suggest that Friday's encounter could go either way, as both teams have shown they are evenly matched.

• Drogheda Utd 2 - 0 Waterford United, April 2025
• Waterford United 0 - 0 Drogheda Utd, October 2024
• Drogheda Utd 2 - 0 Waterford United, July 2024
• Waterford United 4 - 2 Drogheda Utd, May 2024
• Drogheda Utd 1 - 4 Waterford United, February 2024

Betting Tips for Waterford v Drogheda United

With all of that said, our team of betting experts recommend that the best tip for this game is Drogheda to Win. With the odds currently at 2.53 on Highbet, a £10 stake could see a potential return of up to £23.53.

(odds subject to change)

Final Prediction:

We think Drogheda will win this one, given their recent form and the league standings. This result would extend Waterford’s streak without a win to three games. Based on the current form and circumstances, we expect Drogheda to come out on top, possibly with a scoreline of 1-2.

Waterford 1-2 Drogheda United