League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Shelbourne

Drogheda United host Shelbourne at United Park on Friday evening, knowing there is a chance of securing a promotion play-off spot, should they beat Shelbourne and Cobh Ramblers fail to beat UCD.

DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders' come into this game unbeaten in eight, a run of games that has seen them come away with two draws and six victories, including a 2-0 win away to Shelbourne in July.

A Sean Thornton penalty and a late Aaron Ashe goal gave Drogheda the victory that day, in the third meeting between the sides this season. In the first meeting between the sides this season, it was Shelbourne who came away with a 3-0 victory before Drogheda came away with a narrow 1-0 victory in the next game in May.

Speaking to the Drogheda United club website, manager Pete Mahon said he expressed his surprise at how Shelbourne had performed thus far this season; “I’ve been surprised by Shels’ struggles this season. I thought they would be up there with ourselves challenging for promotion but it obviously hasn’t worked out that way.”

Drogheda now sit 5 points clear of UCD and 11 clear of Cobh following a hard fought 1-0 victory over Athlone Town last week in a game that showed positives and negatives for Mahon’s side as Marc Griffin got his second of the season but Gareth McCaffrey, who had scored 4 goals in 6 games, was shown a red card late on.

Mahon admitted his sides performance was not up to scratch but on the result told the club website that “at this stage of the year, results will always trump performances and it was vital that we took advantage of both UCD and Cobh not playing in the league and opened up a bit of a cushion for ourselves.”

In team news, Drogheda will be without the suspended Gareth McCaffrey following his red card in Athlone while Lloyd Buckley, who was taken to hospital at half time in the same game, will sit out with an ankle ligament injury. Meanwhile, Sean Brennan is highly doubtful as he works towards recovering from a knee injury.

SHELBOURNE

Owen Heary's Shelbourne travel to take on Drogheda United in good form as they are for the first time this season, unbeaten in their last three games, thanks to a draw vs Cobh which was followed by back to back victories over the bottom two in the league, Athlone and Cabinteely.

It was goals from Shels' two top scorers, Jamie Doyle, who has scored two of Shelbourne's three goals vs Drogheda this season and forward James English which seen Shelbourne beat Cabinteely, after Victor Ekanem had put Cabinteelty in front.

In team news, Shelbourne have no players suspended or doubtful ahead of the game. However, defender Aidan Collins will be forced to sit out with a shoulder injury picked up in the win over Athlone Town at the beginning of December.

Referee: John McLoughlin

MATCH STATS

In the 37 meetings between these sides, it is Shelbourne who have the better record, winning sixteen and drawing twelve while Drogheda have won this fixture nine times.

Drogheda are seventeen points ahead of Shelbourne, scoring four more goals but conceding eight less than Owen Heary's men this season.

Those figures mean there is also a significant gap in goal difference between the two sides, with Drogheda sitting on +12 and Shelbourne on 0.

BETTING

Drogheda United 3/4; Draw 14/5; Away 10/3.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2-1 Shelbourne

Drogheda United

Injured: Lloyd Buckley (ankle ligaments).

Doubtful: Sean Brennan (knee).

Suspended: Gareth McCaffrey.

Shelbourne

Injured: Aidan Collins (shoulder).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.