League Preview: Shamrock Rovers - v- Dundalk

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops go into Friday night's game against Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium (kick off 8pm) on the back of a 1-0 midweek victory against Longford Town that earned Rovers a record sixth consecutive EA Sports Cup semi-final appearance.

However, the team on Tuesday night was much changed from the side that played in their last league game against Limerick. Only David Webster and Brandon Miele appeared played against Longford from the team that was held to a disappointing 1-1 draw courtesy of a late equaliser from Limerick’s Rodrigo Tosi.

In that match Rovers began well and took an 18^th minute lead but a particularly lethargic second half performance was noted by first team coach Glenn Cronin when he spoke to the club’s website on Thursday.

"In the first half we really controlled the game,” said Cronin. “Second half we just became deep. I thought it became a second ball game in midfield. We could have managed that better.

"Then to concede a late goal in the 90th minute, it's disappointing but we move on, we go again and we don't dwell on it. We can be better in that situation and I'm sure we will be.”

Cronin understands the importance of the match on Friday. Having hit the bar in injury time he believes that the Hoops were unlucky not to come away with a draw against Dundalk in the 2-1 defeat on the opening day of the season. They have enough in the team to cause the three-in-a-row champions problems.

"Everybody's looking forward to it. We probably should have got more out of the game up there early in the season. They know there wasn't much in it on the day and if we can get those levels tomorrow which I'm sure we can, we'll cause them problems.

“These are the games you want to play in as a player. These are the big games. This is why you play football, to come to stadiums that are full.

The Hoops have no new injury concerns, with Paul Corry available for selection (see Corry interview here), but are still missing the presence of Ryan Connolly due to a foot injury.

DUNDALK

The champions followed up a surprising 2-1 defeat at Galway last Friday with a dominant 3-0 victory midweek over First Division side Waterford to join Rovers in the semi-final of the EA Sports Cup.

Dundalk defender and Danish native, Niclas Vemmelund, spoke to the club's website regarding the positivity of Monday's result.

“It’s always important to win,” said Vemmelund. “We want to win each game we played so it was nice to win in the League Cup on Monday night. We needed to win after Friday’s loss.

“To bounce back was good and it’s good for the team and good for the club and supporters to have a semi-final to look forward to. We are happy to be in the next round.”

Vemmelund noted the disappointing start that the Hoops have made this season but is also acutely aware of the importance of Friday night from a Dundalk perspective, stating Dundalk “need to win”.

“It’s always a nice atmosphere playing at Tallaght Stadium. It is a good place to play and it is a nice surface. Shamrock Rovers are a big club in Ireland. They have got a lot of history and are a very good team.

“They wanted to do well this year and they haven’t started as they would have liked but there hasn’t been many games played. They want to win against us and they want to get some form going but for us we want to win too.

“We need to win. We want the three points and we want to get on a run of games. I think we have played well but we need to win games. It’s a big game tomorrow night and we are ready for it. “

Manager Stephen Kenny highlighted the clubs creative players and spoke of the importance of hard work and how it has “underpinned every part of our success over the past few years”, perhaps a small warning shot at his players that he is expecting more from them.

“We are nothing without hard work. We must realise the importance of hard work and we must understand that has underpinned every part of our success over the past few years. We must roll up our sleeves and work hard for each other.

“That will give us a platform to utilise our creative instincts. We have a lot of very creative players in the team. We want them to really express themselves.”

Dundalk will still be without key players Robbie Benson and Sean Gannon due a hamstring injury and a knee injury respectively. Some good news for the Lillywhites though is the return of Paddy Barrett who played the entire 90 minutes on Monday night.

Referee: Robert Rogers

MATCH STATS

If Dundalk lose tomorrow they will have lost four away games from six played, the same amount of away games they lost in the entirety of last season and would be the joint most since 2012.

Dundalk haven't drawn a game yet this season, with their last draw coming against Shamrock Rovers last September.

The Hoops have not beaten Dundalk in 10 competitive meetings, with their last victory over Friday night's opposition coming in the 2014 FAI Cup quarter-final replay.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 3/1; Draw 5/2; Dundak 10/11.

PREDICTION

1-1

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Ryan Connolly

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Dundalk

Injured: Robbie Benson (hamstring) and Sean Gannon (knee)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None