League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Shelbourne

SHAMROCK ROVERS  

The Hoops come into Friday's game in Tallaght against Shelbourne (kick off 7.45pm) on the back of their first dropped points of the season.

Having won seven from seven, they couldn’t break down ten man St. Patrick’s Athletic who held the Hoops to a scoreless draw last Sunday. If Rovers can get back to winning ways, with Bohs not playing till Saturday, Stephen Bradley’s men could move seven points clear of the Gypsies (and 11 clear of Dundalk).

Speaking to shamrockrovers.ie, Bradley reflected on the draw with Pat’s last weekend. “When you look at the game we were excellent and we dominated so we were disappointed not to come away with the three points,” said Bradley.

“I thought we controlled the game and created chances throughout. There were a lot of crosses into the box and a lot of blocked shots and one or two in the box just didn’t fall for us. So we were really happy with how we played.”

St Pat’s defender Shane Griffin picked up his second yellow four minutes into the second half but the Hoops were not able to exploit their man advantage in the remainder of the match.

”I think it was a similar pattern to how the game was other than just that they sat in their box. It took them another five or ten yards deeper than what they were already. I think for the last half hour they played with no front man.

“They had nothing in the game except for one break at the end and it came off us being a little sloppy in possession rather than them creating anything.”

Looking ahead to facing Shelbourne, Bradley acknowledges that “it’ll be a tough game” but he is looking to “impose our game plan on them. It’s another Dublin derby and another big game.”

Aaron Bolger is now available for selection – the midfielder who is on loan from Cardiff City lined out in the First Division for Rovers earlier in the week against Bray. 

SHELBOURNE

Reds boss Ian Morris reckons the lack of a crowd at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night will help his team in their first league derby against the Hoops since 2013.

“I think with not having fans, and that intimidation, that could be a big factor in our players going and expressing themselves and not wilting to the atmosphere,” said Morris speaking ahead of the game to his club’s media team.

“We’ll show them the respect they deserve but we’ve got to respect ourselves and have that of belief behind us and ambition to get a result in Tallaght,” he added.

If they can get the win, Shels would move into fourth place in the table. Last time out Morris’ men drew 1-1 with Derry City at Tolka Park.

“We’ve got to go there with confidence. We’re the underdog but we’ll have that bit between our teeth. We’ve got players who could turn a game.

“We’ll show them the respect they deserve but we’ve got to respect ourselves and have that of belief behind us and ambition to get a result in Tallaght.”

Morris won’t have former Hoop Karl Sheppard available to him after his recent red card against Finn Harps.

Referee: Rob Harvey.

MATCH STATS

This is the first league game between the sides for seven years. The Hoops beat Shels at Tolka Park in that last encounter on 30 August 2013 with Ronan Finn and Mark Quigley scoring for Rovers and Dean Kelly scoring for the Reds.

The last time to two sides met in competitive action was in the 2017 FAI Cup second round in Tolka Park. The Hoops won 3-0 with Graham Burke on the scoresheet along with goals from James Doona and Brandon Miele.

The Hoops haven’t lost a home game in the league since June last year when Dundalk won 1-0.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 1/6; Draw 9/2; Shelbourne 14/1

PREDICTION
2-0 home win for the Hoops

Shamrock Rovers 

Injured: Greg Bolger.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shelbourne

Injured: Lorcan Fitzgerald

Doubtful: Oscar Brennan

Suspended: Karl Sheppard

League Preview: Derry City -v- Cork City https://t.co/K4hwqZMqEGpic.twitter.com/8APuzsSgzU

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) August 20, 2020