League Preview: Shamrock Rovers-v- Drogheda United

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops will go second on Monday night and move within two points of top spot should they beat Drogheda United in their re-arranged match.

This fixture fell foul of snow earlier in the season and so has been squeezed into the schedule three days after Rovers’ 1-1 draw with Galway United. It is the second week of a set of three weeks when Rovers have Friday-Monday match double headers.

Having got four away points last week (three in Derry and one in Tolka Park), they want to make it a four point home haul from this set of fixtures.

The Hoops still have a very lengthy injury list but are boosted by the return of Dan Cleary from suspension as they battle with a congested fixture list while down bodies.

“We’ve been here many times before,” said Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley speaking to shamrockrovers.ie on Sunday. “There’s never any sense of panic around this group. We don’t operate in that way. It’s just calmness, try and recover as best you can, prepare for the next game, and meet it head on.

"What will be, will be, but there’s never a sense of panic around this group. We’ve been there too long, around the top for so long, that doesn’t happen here.”

Reflecting on the draw with Galway on Friday, Bradley said: “We had chances to win the game. We had the penalty and we had two really good opportunities, two free headers from corners where we should score, but did our overall play merit the win? I didn’t feel it did on the night and when you watch it back.

"Our initial building phases were good, but our final third play was really poor. I think a draw was a fair result.”

Talking about Monday’s opponents Bradley said:  “They’ve just come off the back of a really good win (3-1 v Sligo). When you look at what they have in the attacking part of the pitch, you look at Foley, Markey and Pierrot, they are really good, really dangerous. 

“I said before the Galway game and it’s very similar with Drogheda, if we switch off for a moment, as we did on Friday, you get punished. That’s what happens in this league.

"We have to make sure that we’re fully switched on for ninety plus minutes against Drogheda. If you’re not, they’ve shown in the past and this year, they’ll punish you.”

Bradley also spoke with extratime.com after the game against Galway on Friday about not using the injuries as an excuse and the bright parts from Friday – the return to the starting lineup for Sean Kavanagh and the debut for 16-year-old Matthew Britton.

Stephen Bradley on his stretched squad mis-firing against Galway: “It looked to me that we had a few players that got really comfortable understanding that the squad is tight at the moment” https://t.co/A1hzW9A68apic.twitter.com/NYuvUbsx8r

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 28, 2024

DROGHEDA UNITED

The two sides face each other for the first time this season.

Kevin Doherty's side come into the game after picking up just their second win of the season. 

Another three points on Monday and it would move them out of the relegation play-off position above Waterford and level on points with seventh placed Sligo Rovers and just a point behind St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Their victory on Friday at home to Sligo Rovers was their first win in eight games – they had drawn five and lost two prior to that.

It was a come from behind win after Will Fitzgerald had given Sligo Rovers an early lead. A superb strike from Darragh Markey leveled the game on 24 minutes and with 20 minutes to play the Boynesiders took the lead through Frantz Pierrot from the penalty spot after Niall Morahan had fouled Luke Heeney in the box.

When the teams played last season, both games at Weavers Park ended in draws - a 1-1 draw in February and a scoreless draw in July.

In Tallaght in May, Drogheda won 2-1 thanks to goals from Freddie Draper and Dayle Rooney, before in October Rovers ran out 5-0 winners. 

Rovers haven't lost at home in the league since being beaten by Drogheda last May.

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Evan Weir is the top scorer for the visitors so far this season with four goals. Aaron Greene has scored most for the Hoops with six.

Rovers win over Drogheda last time out in October was their first win over the Boynsiders in six matches.

Since Drogheda won in Tallaght last May, Rovers are unbeaten in 14 league games with 11 wins and three draws.

Monday night is the tenth anniversary plus a day from Shamrock Rovers’ 3-0 Leinster Senior Cup quarter-final win over Bohemians. Karl Sheppard scored a brace with Kieran Marty Waters on the scoresheet.

PREDICTION

2-0 home win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Sean Hoare, Lee Grace; Neil Farrugia, Jack Byrne, Gary O’Neill, Aaron McEneff, Graham Burke.

Doubtful: Markus Poom, Richie Towell

Suspended: None

Drogheda United

Injured: Andrew Quinn  

Doubtful: Evan Weir, Andrew Wogan

Suspended: None

Tommy Barrett: ‘We might have a big injury list but we have to deal with it’ - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/Kvs4IQShCY

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 28, 2024