20.00 27 Sep 2013 -
Referee: Paul Tuite
Shamrock Rovers -v- Drogheda United
- Extratime Team
- Thu, Sep 26 2013
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers will be looking for their second win over Drogheda in the space of a week as they hosts the Boynesiders at Tallaght on Friday night.
Trevor Croly’s side beat Drogheda in the EA Sports cup and will be looking to bounce back from their 2-0 defeat to Limerick on Tuesday night.
The loss to Limerick dented Rover’s chances of breaking into the top four, they now trail Derry City by six points with a game more played. It looks like they could be vying for a European place through the FAI Cup.
There were nine changes made from the side which lined out against Drogheda for Tuesday’s trip to Thomond, yet with all the players who had their chance to impress they produced a lacklustre display which resulted in defeat.
Croly admitted his side’s performance was lacking and has relishes the chance to put that right on Friday, “This is an important game for us and one we need to get a win from. There is no doubting that we were poor in Limerick on Tuesday and we were very disappointed with the result, so it is good that we have another game so quickly in order to put that behind us and get back on track.”
Ronan Finn (groin) and Richie Ryan (illness) both remain doubts for the game, while Karl Sheppard still has an abdomen problem despite playing in Tuesday’s game, which will again have to be assessed before the match.
DROGHEDA UNITED
The Boynesiders are suffering a slump at the wrong time of the season, they are three games without a win which saw them lose the EA Sports Cup final in the process.
They can consider themselves unlucky not to have taken anything from their Tuesday night tussle with Cork City at Hunky Dorys Park. Drogheda were made pay for an incredibly slow start which saw them 2-0 down after 15 minutes. However once they re-focused they managed to pull level but were undone by an 87th minute goal.
However, the loss to Cork put a dent in their hopes to nab sixth place, they are now level on points with Limerick and trail Cork by three points, so more than anything a win is required.
They need to get their groove back as they face a big week with a trip to Tolka on Monday night and more importantly, an FAI Cup semi-final with Dundalk on the horizon.
Speaking ahead of the game Drogheda Assistant Manager Robbie Horgan bemoaned the sides returns from good performances,
“It feels a bit more like earlier in the season when we were constantly putting good performances together but just not getting the results. I thought we deserved something from the Cork,” he began.
“The lads will be confident going back up to Tallaght, I think we were the better team on Saturday and just one or two mistakes cost us, but we have looked at that and we'll need to tighten up,” he said.
On the injury front, Drogheda have a clean bill of health, but they will be without their captain Derek Prendergast who is serving a suspension for accumulated yellow cards.
Referee: Paul Tuite
MATCH STATS
Drogheda have conceded six goals in their last three games, scoring only two, twice they have failed to score.
This is the fourth meeting of the teams in Tallaght, Drogheda have yet to win and they have only scored two goals in Dublin as opposed to Rovers ten.
BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 7/10; Draw 12/5; Drogheda United 4/1.
PREDICTION
2-1 to Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ronan Finn, Richie Ryan, Karl Sheppard
Suspended: None.
Drogheda United
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Derek Prendergast.