Preview: Shamrock Rovers vs UCD

Shamrock Rovers will be looking to get back to winning ways on Friday night at Tolka Park. Both Rovers and their opponents UCD come into the game on the back of two successive defeats. It will be Rovers second game against a Dublin side in a matter of weeks. With UCD currently second from bottom, they too will be going into the game looking for, and in need of, points.

A large number of Rovers fans made their way to Cobh last Saturday and were surprised to see their side lose by two goals to nil. In many ways Cobh beat Rovers at their own game. They fought for every ball, kept their shape and discipline very well, and frequently turned the Rovers defence. Rovers are one of the fittest sides in the league, if not the fittest, but Cobh’s young hungry side almost made them look like slouches at times.

That defeat to last year's First Division Champions came on the back of a painful derby day experience for the Hoops. Bohs picked up maximum points and were the better side on the day - however only just. Pat Scully’s side matched them in most departments but were unable to break down their solid back four. To make matters worse, Bohs goal came as a result of an error in the home side's defence.

Rovers' ten points come from their first four games of the season. Impressive displays brought convincing wins over Drogheda, Bray and Galway. A draw at home to Cork should also be seen as a good result - especially if one considers that the Leesiders are so far unbeaten in all competitions this season.

UCD didn't deserve anything from their game against Champions Drogheda last Friday. For an hour or so Drogheda reminded all those in attendance just why they were worthy and deserved title winners last season. However, having said that, UCD created a number a chances and in the end it was ultimately poor defending that cost them the game.

The week previous to that UCD were close to picking up a point at Turners Cross. Cork won by a goal to nil thanks to a Dave Mooney penalty - the awarding of the spot kick was very much a controversial issue. Once again the Students created the openings but failed to profit from them.

The four points they have amassed so far come from an away win over a poor Bray side and a home draw against a Sligo side that are looking far more consistent and harder to break down than they were at any point last season. On the opening day of the season Derry were extremely fortunate to come away from the Belfield Bowl with a win, as UCD certainly deserved at least a point. In a tight game at Finn Park, a long range effort from Shaun Williams was all that separated the sides.

These sides met on three occasions in the league last season. Rovers travelled to Befield on the opening day of the season - that game ended in a scoreless draw and both managers were happy to start the season in such a way. They met again in the middle of July and on that occasion Rovers won by two goals to nil thanks to goals from strikers Ger Rowe and Tadhg Purcell. UCD's Paul Byrne had to leave the action early that day after picking up an injury and wasn't fit to play again until right before the end of the season. Just over a month later, the sides were back at Belfield and made up for the lack of goals in their previous encounter at the venue. UCD took the lead after a minute, but Tadhg Purcell equalised before the fifteen-minute mark. Andy Myler then bagged a hat trick, before Shane Fitzgerald got a late consolation to make the final score 4-2 in favour of the visitors.

The bookmakers make Rovers odds-on favourites for the win, with the best price available being around the 8/13 (1.62) mark. Odds of 9/2 or maybe even 19/4 (5.8) is available to you if you think Pete Mahon’s men can inflict another home defeat on Rovers.

For further coverage of Fridays game between Shamrock Rovers and UCD please see Mahon expects a UCD win and Scully – We can’t afford to slip further behind

Kick off at Tolka Park is 8pm

As always extratime.ie will bring you the team line-ups as soon as they are announced and also keep you up to date with all the goals and other major incidents.