League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Dundalk

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers will host fellow title contenders Dundalk this Friday evening in the SSE Airtricity League League Premier Division (Kick off: 8:00pm). The Hoops have made a great start to the season remaining unbeaten at this stage having gained a valuable point last week in Derry however Pat Fenlon’s side will face a tough task against reigning champions Dundalk.

In anticipation of the game, Rovers boss Pat Fenlon had this to say:

“We've had a good week of preparations for this game, and we go into it with a clean bill of health and are only missing one player through suspension.

“It's a big game for us, Dundalk and the league in general and we're confident we can get a good result.

“There should be a big, colorful crowd on the night and it's the kind of game we all look forward to; that's certainly the case this time around."

The Tallaght outfit have no injury worries although they will be without Keith Fahey who is suspended after being sent off last Friday against Derry City.

DUNDALK

Dundalk make the trip to Tallaght on Friday to take on Shamrock Rovers with the hope of continuing their unbeaten start to the season. Dundalk, last time out, scraped by Drogheda winning 1-0 in the Louth Derby thanks to a late Richie Towell strike.

Stephen Kenny ahead of the game, had this to say:

“It’s another game this week for us and we’re looking forward to it. Our performances have been good so far this season and the players have been brilliant. It doesn’t matter to us whether the match is home or away. It’s irrelevant.

“We will approach the game the same we and go into it as we do every other. We will be approaching the game in a positive manner and going out to try win the game.”

Striker David McMillan also gave his views before the game against Shamrock Rovers:

“It was a difficult game in which we had to be extremely patient. Drogheda were extremely difficult to break down, they sat behind the ball and we missed a couple of chances that could have put us in front,

‘It wasn’t an easy game by any stretch of the imagination so I am very happy that we could break them down and took one of our chances towards the end. Going to Tallaght will be tough and Shamrock Rovers are a good team but we believe if we keep playing the way we have been recently then we have a great chance of getting the right result.”

Stephen Kenny will have a full squad to choose from with Jake Kelly and Stephen O’Donnell both returning after injuries.

Referee:Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

Dundalk have only dropped two points all season, with that mishap coming in the draw against Limerick.

Shamrock Rovers haven’t beaten Dundalk at home in three games.

Dundalk’s record against Shamrock Rovers in the league reads P184 W57 D51 L76

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 15/8; Draw 21/10; Dundalk 6/4.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 0-1 Dundalk.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Keith Fahey.

Dundalk

Injured:None.

Doubtful:None.

Suspended:None.