Cup holders will be a different proposition for red-hot City
When Longford last came to the Cross on June 25, they frustrated City by placing as many players as possible behind the ball. It subsequently hurt City as they failed to find the net, but manager Damien Richardson concedes that the current Cup holders will be doing the same tonight.
"That's Longford's style. They have a very good squad but unfortunately they are more concerned with not conceding rather than scoring. That makes them a very difficult proposition and we know that they'll come here and sit back.
"But my players need to have patience and we need to put them under pressure and whichever team gets the first goal, that will be vital. Longford are a good Cup side and counter-attack very quickly so if they score first, they could make life very difficult for us."
City are playing fantasy football at the moment and, after their goal fest in Belfield on Friday night, they went out two days later against Hibernian with half the team that defeated UCD and played some of the best football witnessed at the Cross in quite some time. This has really cheered Richardson, whose hard work on the training ground is finally paying off.
"I'm delighted with the performances and the players' attitudes. I like to work with players on a one to one basis on the training ground and that strategy is beginning to manifest especially last Friday night and on Sunday against Hibs.
"I want my players to play attractive football that's my style and I know I have the players to bring about that style. At times it can be difficult because the grounds are very dry and the ball isn't moving as swiftly on the surface as I'd like it to. I would like each club to water their surfaces before kick-off as this will quicken the tempo of the game and allow teams that like to play it along the surface to carry out their game-plans."
City will be without Billy Woods (bruised knee) and Colin O'Brien who is still struggling with an ankle injury he picked up three weeks ago.
Richardson has also hailed the scoring instincts of his strikers, John O'Flynn and Neale Fenn, but hopes that his wingers and midfielders can also chip in with more goals.
"John O'Flynn is back scoring which is great to see; Neale Fenn is finding the net now more regularly, while Liam Kearney is proving that he has an eye for goal as well.
Roy O'Donovan is proving more dangerous with every game while it would be nice if we got our centre-backs to chip in as well."
Holders Longford will travel with a close to full strength squad including Alan Kirby and Andy Myler, who gave City a few scares during their last meeting, while their back-four will prove as reliable as ever.
In the other quarter-final Derry City host Drogheda United at the Brandywell. Both teams are showing good form in the league while both managers have vowed to play full-strength sides in what should be a cracking contest.
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