League Preview: Cobh Ramblers -v- Shelbourne

COBH RAMBLERS

Cobh Ramblers take on Shelbourne FC in a mouth-watering clash in the SSE Airtricity First Division at St. Colman’s Park (kick-off 7.15pm). A win for the Cork men would catapult them into second place in the league following the results from Friday night.

Boss Stephen Henderson will be pleased by the courage and spirited display in their previous match last week coming from 2-0 down to claim a draw against Athlone Town thanks to late goals from Shane O’Connor and Robert Lehane.

The Rams will be hoping to build upon their recent unbeaten run which has seen them pick up two wins and a draw in their last three games.

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne will make the difficult trip to the Rebel County with a similar incentive to win as their hosts. A victory for the Dublin side will move them up three places and leapfrog Drogheda United into second place.

Shels enjoyed a superb 4-1 win away to Waterford United in their last league game in an impressive performance with a hat-trick from James English and Jamie Doyle netting the other. They followed that up with the scalp of Bohemians in the EA Sports Cup on penalties after the game had finished 0-0 after extra time. Their reward is a derby date with Shamrock Rovers in the quarter-finals.

Manager Kevin Doherty was pleased with his side’s performance against Bohs and told www.shelbournefc.ie, “It was fantastic. We haven’t played them in competitive action for a few years, so it was great to get one over on them. The supporters really loved it, I loved it and the players loved it.”

Shels have been unbeaten in their last three games including two away wins in the league but Doherty warned against any complacency stating to www.shelbournefc.ie, “It’s a really tough one but we will be looking to come away with something. We’ve struggled bigtime down there over the past few years – I couldn’t tell you when we last won in Cobh. It’s going to be a really tough place to go. They’re a good side, with good players, a good manager and are very well organised.”

Shelbourne have a full squad of players available for selection with the exception of Ryan Robinson who is still ruled out with a broken nose sustained in the match against UCD.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea

MATCH FACTS

Cobh Ramblers have eleven points from seven league games with three wins, two draws and two losses.

Shelbourne have ten points from their seven games with three wins, a draw and three defeats.

Cobh Ramblers got the better of Shelbourne 1-0 in the reverse fixture at Tolka Park on the opening weekend of the season in March.

Both sides have an equal head to head record in the sixteen games played since 1994. Cobh and Shelbourne have won four games each with eight draws with Cobh scoring seventeen goals and Shelbourne bagging 22 goals.

BETTING

Cobh Ramblers 2/1 Draw 23/10 Shelbourne 6/5.

PREDICTION

Cobh Ramblers 1-2 Shelbourne.

Cobh Ramblers

Injuries: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injuries: Ryan Robinson (nose).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.