League Preview: Longford Town - v - Shelbourne

LONGFORD TOWN

Unbeaten Longford Town play host to table-topping Shelbourne at City Calling Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 7.30pm).

Longford are the only unbeaten team in the First Division with wins at home to Drogheda United and last week’s crucial away victory over a vastly improved Athlone Town, while Neale Fenn’s charges have also earned away draws with Limerick and Cabinteely.

Sam Verdon’s match winning goal in the 69thminute in last week’s ‘El Classico De Midlands’ means that the Town are just one point behind the leading trio of Shelbourne, Bray and Athlone at the top, with a game less played.

Winless in the league last season against Shelbourne, boss Fenn will no doubt have his charges extremely motivated for this game, as he’ll be aware of the consequences of a positive result.

Although it is still early days, a win here for Longford would go a long way in ensuring that they would be in the promotion mix come September.

Carlton Ubaezuono is the only injury absentee for the hosts, while the Town have no suspensions.

SHELBOURNE

It was a disappointing 2-1 reversal at Cobh Ramblers last Friday night for Ian Morris’ men.

Jaze Kabia and Denzil Fernandes both scored in seven second-half minutes to condemn the Dubliners to their second league defeat of the season. Ciaran Kilduff dispatched a penalty with five minutes remaining for Shels, while Greg Moorhouse was dismissed at the last kick of the game due to two bookings so he will now miss Saturday’s game due to suspension.



Shels just did not get into any sort of rhythm and perhaps deserved the loss, but boss Morris wanted to be positive when speaking to his club’s website.

He has been delighted with the away travelling support on top of strong home crowds, and this is something he believes the players thrive off.

“We understand the frustration last week but it’s a huge credit to them to see the numbers that have travelled. There’s big numbers due this week again and we want to give them a performance. We really want to get the fans behind the team. We’re in this together," he said.

On the Cobh game itself, the young coach was understandably frustrated at the result and performance.

“Nothing went right for us and we’re going to have to be brave enough to receive the ball and play,” he said.

“Some days you get one or two players who have an off day but as a collective, myself included, it didn’t go well. It was frustrating but we need to get over it and bounce back, we’re still top of the league so we’ve the chance to bounce back.” he added.



On Saturday night’s opponents, the 31-year-old is aware of just how good Longford are.

“Longford have gone under the radar. Everyone in the media were focused on ourselves but they’ve got Premier Division players with good squad depth. It’ll be a tough test, but we need to be confident and positive going into it,” he concluded.

Referee: Eoghan O’Shea.

MATCH STATS

Both sides have played each other 32 times in competitive fashion. Shelbourne have won 18 of those, Longford have won just six, while there has been eight stalemates.

Last season, the pair met four times; three in the league and the other in the Cup. Shels won the first meeting 3-2 at Tolka, the second meeting between the pair was a 1-1 draw in Longford and Shels walloped the Town 6-1 in late July in Drumcondra. An FAI Cup second-round clash in late August saw Neale Fenn’s men win 2-0.

From his first seven competitive games, Ian Morris has won four and lost three.

Ciaran Kilduff is Shels top scorer with five, while Sam Verdon is Longford’s top scorer with two.

BETTING

Longford Town 7/5; Draw 23/10; Shelbourne 6/4.

PREDICTION

Longford Town 2-2 Shelbourne.

Longford Town

Injured: Carlton Ubaezuono.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Shane Farrell.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Greg Moorhouse.

    About Graham Russell

    View Full Profile