UCD -v- Shamrock Rovers
Credit:
UCD
UCD welcome Shamrock Rovers to the Belfield Bowl on Friday night as they look to get off the mark with their first three points of the season in what will be a difficult test.
Despite being without a win they are only three points behind third bottom Bray Wanderers meaning that a win could be all important for The Students. They once again showed great character against Drogheda United last week and in the end were perhaps unlucky not to get something out of the game. Club captain Mick Leahy is their only absentee this coming weekend as he remains out with his knee injury.
Martin Russell believes his side will take heart from that performance at Hunky Dorys Park and says his side are hungry to get their first victory of the new campaign.
"Rovers will have ambitions of winning back the title”, he said, “and on the back of their recent Setanta Cup success they will be looking to climb the table. We will take solace from our performance against Drogheda last Friday night and will regroup and attack this challenge knowing we have the talent and hunger to be successful."
Top scorer David McMillan insists that if his side do not win this game then it will not be from lack of effort by any of the players.
"As always Rovers have assembled a strong squad with some former Students among their ranks. It is going to be a tough task but we are ready and will be doing everything to make sure we take something from the game."
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Shamrock Rovers travel to the UCD Bowl looking to get back to winning ways in the league after suffering their first defeat of the season against Derry City last weekend. However, they did receive a confidence boost earlier in the week by seeing off Cork City on away goals to advance to the Setanta Cup final, Billy Dennehy grabbing the dramatic late goal in the Rebel County.
There are quite a few injury troubles plaguing the Tallaght side ahead of this one with defensive trio Jason McGuinness, Ken Oman and Conor Powell all out, as is Mark Quigley due to a hamstring problem.
During the draw with Cork on Monday Ciaran Kilduff picked up a slight knock meaning that he is doubtful and Pat Sullivan will sit in the stands as he is suspended having reached the yellow card limit.
Boss Trevor Croly believes that the result on Monday night was a welcome one for his team but wants the side to get back to top form in the league, starting with the game against UCD.
He said: “It was a great result for us on Monday night in Cork and we’re delighted to have made it to the final of the Setanta Sports Cup. It is a great boost for us to be in a final so early and to have made it there by showing such character and persistence as the players did on Monday night, is very positive for us.
“We’ll be in good form going into the UCD game this weekend. But we are also realistic; we know UCD can be a tricky place to go,” Croly continued. “They always have young, hungry players and that can be hard to play against. But it is important that we get back on track in the league and we’ll be looking to do that on Friday night.”
Referee: Rob Rogers.
MATCH STATS
In this fixture last season, goals in each half from Gary Twigg and Gary McCabe did the damage as Rovers emerged with a 2-0 win.
In 2011 Rovers blitzed the Students 6-0 both home and away in two games spaced out over less than a month.
Not since the 2008 season have UCD taken more than one point off the Hoops across a season, drawing twice and losing the other game played that year.
BETTING
UCD 15/2, Draw 3/1, Shamrock Rovers 2/5.
PREDICTION
Confidence will no doubt be high in the Shamrock Rovers camp after Monday night while UCD are at the opposite end of the spectrum. UCD 0-2 Shamrock Rovers.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Ken Oman (ankle), Conor Powell (ankle), Jason McGuinness (hamstring), Mark Quigley (hamstring).
Doubtful: Ciaran Kilduff.
Suspended: Pat Sullivan.
UCD
Injured: Mick Leahy (knee).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
