- Waterford FC have won three, drawn one and lost one of their last five games.
- Cobh Ramblers have won one and lost four of their five away games in all competitions this season.
- Waterford have scored 1.80 goals per home game and conceded 1.20 goals per game at home in all competitions this term.
Back the Blues to edge out the Ramblers
Waterford FC are 31/50 favourites to see off Cobh Ramblers on Friday and that is a good number to back as the FAI Cup 2026 side have been in solid form of late.
The Blues have won four, drawn three and lost three of their previous ten across all competitions and that is good enough to justify their short odds against a side that have won just one of their past five and already have three defeats to their name.
Graham Coughlan has instilled a solid 4-2-3-1 structure on this side and a measured tempo and approach to games where they can be tough to break down, but still possess the width and quality in the wide areas to hurt teams.
Padraig Amond has been their main man up top with four of the 12 goals scored in their last five coming from him, but the goals have been spread around in the last few games.
Cobh have been on a downwards spiral of late and can be lively in transitions and from wide areas, but Shane Keegan's men have not scored enough recently to suggest they can hurt Waterford.
Wilson Waweru has provided their spark in attack with two goals in the previous five games, but they will need a lot of support from elsewhere if they are to take the fight to the hosts.
Cobh's away record is one win and four defeats from five with 12 goals conceded in those five trips and it's hard to see how they can compete with a Waterford side that are in control of their game.
Waterford drew 1-1 with St Pat's at home.
A run of 4-3-3 across their previous 10 has seen Waterford pick up four wins, three draws and three defeats and that is solid enough to back the hosts at a shade of odds-on.
Cobh's recent record of 4-6-0 across their past ten suggests they are the sort of streaky team that can pick up a win, but against a team with Waterford's control and quality, they are likely to have a long night.
Waterford have won two of the last three home head-to-heads, and the RSC has been a friendly hunting ground, so back the home side to edge this in a game where under 3.5 goals also seems to fit the script of home control and limited visiting threat.
