League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Shelbourne

DROGHEDA UNITED

High-flying Drogheda United take on the challenge of promotion rivals Shelbourne in a real six-pointer in the SSE Airtricity First Division at United Park on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Drogheda are looking to close the gap on UCD at the top of the table with a home win and boost their prospects of returning to the top flight. The Drogs will aim to bounce back from the disappointment of their humiliating 7-2 exit from the EA Sports Cup at the hands of Shelbourne at Tolka Park during the week.

Drogheda simply could not get to grips with their opponents and found themselves trailing 4-0 before the half hour mark thanks to a four goal blitz over a seven-minute spell, and never recovered from that blow. The home side added two more before consolation goals from Sean Trimble and William Hondermarck gave the away fans something to shout about.

The Drogs had been in excellent form prior to that with just one league defeat in eight matches so far in the SSE Airtricity First Division. That run has included resounding wins over Athlone Town (6-0), Wexford (0-8), and Cobh Ramblers (1-5) with only Cabinteely managing to get the better of them in a hard fought 3-2 win at Stradbrook PArk.

Drogheda United are currently in second place in the SSE Airtricity First Division on 17 points from their eight league matches with five wins, two draws and one defeat.

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne will aim to leapfrog Drogheda United and enhance their prospects of reaching the summit of the SSE Airtricity First Division when they travel to the north-east to lock horns with the Louth side.

Shels produced another excellent display in midweek in the second round of the EA Sports Cup and tore the Drogs apart thanks to a four goal haul in a seven-minute salvo in the first half thanks to goals from Dave Mulcahy, Dayle Rooney, Cian Kavanagh and Jamie Doyle who later completed his hat-trick in the last minute with Shane Farrell bagging the sixth goal on the mark.

This followed on from an impressive 2-0 win last Friday night in the SSE Airtricity First Division over promotion favourites Galway United at Tolka Park thanks to goals from Alan Byrne and in-form striker David O’Sullivan.

Shels have been in great form recently with just one defeat in the league since the opening day loss to UCD at the UCD Bowl in February and have advanced to the 3^rd round of the EA Sports Cup with wins over Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United.

Shels boss Owen Heary was naturally delighted with his sides display last week against Galway United, telling the club's website: “We bounced back very well (after Cabinteely), especially against a strong full-time outfit such as Galway. I think that’s Galway’s first defeat.

“Overall, I think we deserved that win and it moves us up in the table. It’s the first round of games, apart from obviously the game that was called off against Drogheda, but we’ve big games coming up now and we need to not get too carried away.”

Shelbourne will be without the services of Lorcan Fitzgerald due to a hamstring injury and Mark Hughes also due to an injury but the north Dublin club have no suspensions to worry about.

Referee: David Keeler

MATCH FACTS

Drogheda United and Shelbourne did not meet competitively last season but in the 2016 season Drogheda dominated proceedings winning 3 of the four matches 1-0, 0-2 and 2-0 with Shelbourne winning the other game 3-0.

The head to head record since 1995 has seen the sides meet competitively on 39 occasions with Drogheda winning 10 matches, Shelbourne winning 17 and 12 draws.

Drogheda scored 41 goals averaging 1.05 per game and Shelbourne scored 64 goals averaging 1.64 per game.

BETTING

Drogheda United evens; Draw 23/10; Shelbourne 23/10.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 2-2 Shelbourne

Drogheda United

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Mark Hughes.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.