League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Cabinteely

Shelbourne play host to Cabinteely this Saturday at Tolka Park, with the Reds looking to maintain a 100% record over their South Dublin rivals. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

SHELBOURNE

Having gone three games without victory in the league, last week's 2-1 win over UCD came at the right time and meant that Shelbourne cut the gap between themselves and the third-placed Students in the First Division table to four points.

However, UCD's vastly superior goal difference (+27 to Shels' +2) means that Kevin Doherty's side cannot afford any more slip ups during their final five league matches, with sneaking into the third-place play-off spot – and earning an outside chance of winning promotion – still a possibility, on paper at least.

Given that the Reds currently have maximum points from three league meetings with Cabinteely in 2015, the visit of the Southsiders to Richmond Road will be viewed as an opportunity to build some much needed momentum at a pivotal point in the campaign.

A front line which had struggled for goals on a consistent basis has come to life recently for Shels, with Philly Hughes, James English and Mark Sandford netting 11 goals between them in the Reds' last nine league games. Hughes, in particular, has rediscovered some of his best form, scoring six of his seven league goals during that period.

With only goalkeeper David Ryan missing through injury, Doherty has a full outfield compliment to choose from, including the returning Conor Earley who comes back into contention for the first time since picking up a knock in the 4-2 July friendly defeat to Scottish Premier League side Hearts.

CABINTEELY

Eddie Gormley's side travel to Tolka Park on Saturday with the worst away record of all 20 Airtricity League clubs to date, but sit second from bottom in the First Division with Waterford United two points worse off.

At the start of the season, Cabinteely were many pundits' pick to be bottom of the pile at the end of their maiden season in League of Ireland football, so even a seventh place finish would be enough for the Dun Laoghaire side to prove people wrong. While it is unfair to gauge the success of a project like this after one season, the players will be keen to finish as high as possible and justify their involvement at this level.

A five game run-in which includes fixtures against the other three sides in the bottom half of the table – an away trip to table-proppers Waterford United and home games against Cobh Ramblers and Athlone Town – provides many realistic opportunities to pick up points. The immediate challenge, though, is overcoming a Shelbourne side who have yet to concede a Cabo goal in three meetings in 2015.

With that in mind, Nigerian forward Sodiq Oguntola represents Cabo's best hope of breaching the Reds rearguard on Saturday. Though he failed to find the net in the previous meeting of these two sides, the 22 year old has netted four times in nine league games since arriving at Stradbrook Road in June – a better conversion rate than Cabo's current all-time top goalscorer John McKeown who has five goals from 20 appearances.

With the club achieving a first of the unwanted sort on Friday evening in the form of a €2,500 fine from the FAI Disciplinary Committee for fielding the ineligible Dean Ebbe in the 3-1 defeat to UCD in July, Cabo will be hoping to turn the focus back to football with a strong performance against Shels on Saturday night.

Gormley welcomes both Oguntola and McKeown back into the squad for the trip to Tolka, along with Victor Ekanem after all three missed last week's 3-2 home defeat to Finn Harps through suspension. Daniel Campbell and ex-Red Jamie McGlynn also come back into contention after injury.

Referee: Andrew Mullally.

MATCH STATS

The three previous league meetings between these sides have all ended 1-0 to the Reds, meaning Shelbourne are the only First Division side Cabinteely have yet to score against this season.

Only two First Division sides boast 100% records in three league games against Cabinteely in 2015: Shelbourne and UCD, with the Students' winning 3-1 in the most recent meeting of the sides – a result which has since been changed to 3-0 with Cabo forfeiting the fixture having been found guilty of fielding an ineligible player during the game.

Shelbourne have earned 18 points at Tolka Park this season compared to 20 points on their travels.

Cabinteely have the worst away record of all 20 League of Ireland clubs at present, winning one and drawing one of their 11 away games – both results coming against Athlone Town (a 2-2 draw in April was followed by a 1-0 win for Cabo in early August).

BETTING

Shelbourne 2/9; Draw 9/2; Cabinteely 9/1.

PREDICTION

1-0.

Shelbourne

Injured: David Ryan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Cabinteely

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.