League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Dundalk

None

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Second place Shamrock Rovers welcome Dundalk to Tallaght Stadium in a televised encounter (7.45pm).

The Hoops suffered a narrow defeat to Cork City last weekend after seeing three players dismissed on a night where off field occurrences dominated the headlines. 

On the pitch, the Tallaght outfit are facing the Lilywhites on the back of consecutive defeats with Drogheda United claiming all three points courtesy of strikes from Freddie Draper and Dayle Rooney the previous weekend.

Sitting seven points ahead of their visitors tonight, Stephen Bradley’s team have taken three league wins and a draw in the last five meetings between the sides, however speaking to his club’s website, he is taking nothing for granted.

‘Yeah, it’ll be a tough game. No doubt, Dundalk are a well-coached team. They always come with a good game plan, and I don’t see any difference with that on Friday night.’ 

‘We know they have players that have been around and won things and are dangerous so we’re in for a tough game, but every game we’ve seen this year is a tough game in this league. We expect no different on Friday, but if we stay at performing levels that we have been in the last few months, and obviously tidy up in both boxes, I think we’ll be OK’

DUNDALK

Dundalk travel to South Dublin on a three game winless run, having conceded late goals to both St Patrick’s Athletic and Bohemians in recent weeks.

However, the return of the experienced Greg Sloggett and defender Louis Annesley to the matchday squad in Inchicore could see both stake a claim for a starting position while Andy Boyle is also poised for action having missed out on all his club’s fixtures in the month of May.



Speaking to his club’s media, Head Coach Stephen O’Donnell was upbeat ahead of a busy seven days.

Tallaght is a great venue, it’s a lovely pitch, and it’s a great arena. The game is live on television and the boys have trained really well and we can’t wait to go up the road and put on a good performance.

“After a loss, you want to get back on the horse as quickly as possible and put things right. We were very disappointed that we didn’t really ram home the advantage against Pat’s last week but the only way you get that out of your system is to get back on the field and go and try and right a few things.

“It’s a massive week coming up with games against Rovers, UCD and Cork City. There are nine points to play for and if we get a good total off the back of those three games, we’ll be right in the mix

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

 



PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 2-1 Dundalk 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Trevor Clarke

Doubtful: Dylan Watts

Suspended: Sean Hoare, Richie Towell, Neil Farrugia, Johnny Kenny

 

Dundalk

Injured: Robbie Benson, John Mountney, Anthony Moyo

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

About Extratime Team

The in-house extratime.com team of writers View Full Profile