League Preview: Dundalk -v- UCD

DUNDALK

The games are coming thick and fast for winless Dundalk and UCD, who face each other on Monday night at Oriel Park (kick-off 7.45pm) having failed to win in their opening two fixtures.

Dundalk were left to rue missed opportunities in what were false starts against Sligo Rovers and then at Finn Harps last Friday, with last season’s champions being held to a 1-1 draw in both games.

“Finn Harps dug in on Friday night and we were disappointed to concede a goal from a set-piece. We missed chances, we hit the post and the crossbar,” first-team coach John Gill told the club’s website.

“We can’t keep feeling sorry for ourselves. There are a lot of positives to take out of the game. We are creating chances. We are disappointed not to get the win.

“We showed a lot of different qualities in the second half on Friday. We showed battling qualities and we were able to show a different side of ourselves.

“We recovered well in the game and got the goal back in the second half. We were unlucky to fall behind. We have to eradicate.

“We got a good goal from a set-piece ourselves. There are no easy games in this league and there are different ways to get results.”

The Lilywhites, perhaps for the better, haven’t got much time to dwell on that result with Harps as attention now turns swiftly to the visit of another newly-promoted side in UCD on Monday night.

“We will dust ourselves down and get ready to go again. We are doing a lot of things right. We have a big game tomorrow night against UCD,” continued Gill.

“We have a lot of quality, we know what we are about and we would liked to have got the wins but we are looking forward to the game tomorrow night. It’s going to be tough.

“I am glad that we have a game so soon after this. Hopefully we can go get the win that we need.”

Jamie McGrath is in line for his first outing of the season after recovering from injury and Joe McKee – a new loan signing from Falkirk – could make his debut having received his international clearance.

Dundalk are likely to be without the injured duo of Robbie Benson and Patrick McEleney for several weeks after they suffered respective leg and foot injuries in the opening night draw with Sligo.

UCD

The Students have had a difficult start to life in the Premier Division, having lost their opening match 3-0 at Derry City before succumbing to a 2-0 defeat at the UCD Bowl against Bohemians last Friday.

Things don’t get much easier for UCD, who now travel up the M1 to last season’s double-winners Dundalk, a team they’ve not beaten in any one of their previous nine attempts in all competitions.

Collie O’Neill’s side will take much encouragement from their most recent meeting with Dundalk, in which they bravely lost 1-0 in the semi-finals of the FAI Cup to the eventual winners last September.

Although the First Division winners matched Dundalk toe-for-toe in their own back yard, they were undone by a sheer piece of brilliance from Patrick McEleney four minutes before the half-time break.

A similar showing on Monday night could see UCD go one better but they’ll have to do it without their left-back Evan Osam, who is set to miss the majority of the season due to a ruptured achilles.

Referee: Tomás Connolly.

MATCH FACTS

Dundalk, who have drawn their first two fixtures, haven’t failed to win in their first three league matches since the 2012 season, in which they went on to finish a lowly 11th in the Premier Division.

UCD haven’t beaten Dundalk since winning 3-2 at Oriel Park in 2013 thanks to a David McMillan brace and a goal from Robbie Benson – both players later went on to play for the Lilywhites.

Stretching back to last season, Dundalk are in fact unbeaten in their last nine league outings having not tasted defeat since Shamrock Rovers came to Oriel Park and recorded a 2-1 win in August 2018.

BETTING

Dundalk 1/8; Draw 13/2; UCD 18/1.

PREDICTION

Dundalk 2-0 UCD

Dundalk

Injured: Robbie Benson (leg), Patrick McEleney (foot).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

UCD

Injured: Evan Osam (achilles).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.