League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Bohemians

SHELBOURNE

The Dublin derbies come around quickly in the Premier Division but Damien Duff reckons there is something special about Shels meeting Bohs for his own team’s supporters. The clubs are separated by less than a 3km walk and there is just five points separating them in the league table at this moment in time.

“In a Dublin derby, every fan may have their own favourite fixture, but I sense that this particular match is big for our fans,” said Duff speaking to Shelbournefc.ie ahead of Friday’s game (which has a 7.45pm kick-off).

“The players have been on it in almost every game against Bohs since I’ve come here. They have consistently stepped up over the past 18 months, even in games we lost at Dalyer, they showed fight. I expect more of the same on Friday night.

“I sometimes think people can be too much stock on form, going into a Dublin Derby, so much at stake, regardless of what happens, the last game, bad or good, doesn’t mean anything under the lights at 7.45pm on Friday.

"It’s an isolated game, a proper derby, rivalry is there, a big match in the context of the league, a special one to be involved in, it means a lot to a lot of people.”

Shels come into the game on the back of a 4-0 win in Belfield last week and he is looking for another big performance from his team this Friday.

“A big part of improving as a team is getting the mentality right, and that’s innate, a will to want to work hard. When I was playing that came from my mam and dad. It helps with who you surround yourself with. When we sign players and build a dressing room, we’re very careful.

"We want to bring in guys with the ability on the pitch but the mentality to be an asset to the group, guys with the right mentality feed into that. Usually when guys leave it’s because they aren’t the right fit and don’t buy into it.

“Our lads would run through walls for each other, jump off the top of Tolka, I know that, but one thing I want more from them is noise, vocals, pushing each other. Lot of them stood up and showed it in UCD. Now bring it in every day, training matches, on the pitch, off the pitch.

"Mentality drives everything. It was my biggest asset as a player. We’ve tried to drive that at the training ground for the last 18 months and in every aspect of what we do.”

Kyle Robinson signs for Drogheda United from Shelbournehttps://t.co/1cTtibW3xR

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 13, 2023

BOHEMIANS 

This sold out Dublin derby in Tolka Park is just one of just two games in the Premier Division on Friday due to the four League of Ireland teams playing in Europe this week (and Sligo Rovers set to play at home on Saturday).

This is the first of two games in hand both Shels and Bohs have on the teams in Europe, who also currently occupy the top four positions in the league.

Bohs will go fourth above Dundalk in the table with any positive result in Drumcondra and they come into the game buoyed by the return of 23-year-old Danny Grant from Huddersfield Town (and a loan spell with Harrogate).

The player came through the Gypsies under-19 team and in 2020 was instrumental in Bohs securing runners up spot in the league – in a season where he won the PFAI Young Player of the Year and was named in the Team of the Year.

“He has the DNA of the club running through him from his past stint here, which was a very successful period for him,” said Declan Devine speaking to his own club’s media team.

“I am delighted he wants to be part of the club again. He adds a dynamic and a quality to what we are trying to grow here.

“He is an exciting player, and is someone who brings tremendous excitement. He is also someone who has matured. He has developed physically, he is a much stronger lad. He has worked extremely hard on his physicality.

“He is another piece of the jigsaw. He gives us a real ability to be penetrative in our play. The way we are playing, Danny brings technical quality in abundance.

“A fit and happy Danny Grant certainly makes Bohemian Football Club a whole lot better.”

Devine’s side come into the game on the back of a dramatic 3-2 win over Dundalk in Dalymount Park last week coming from 2-1 down with eight minutes to go to claim all three points.

The result ended a run of four league games without a win so Devine will be looking for his team to build on that hard fought victory when they take on Damien Duff’s Shelbourne this week.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

The Reds are unbeaten against Bohs in their last four competitive games. Shels have two wins and two draws from three league matches and one FAI Cup game.

Declan Devine sets his side out in a 4-2-3-1 formation 89% of the time, while Damien Duff is more fluid with his team’s formation. Their most used formation is 5-3-2 21% of the time and 5-4-1 18%

Jack Moylan is top scorer for Shelbourne with seven league goals. The Gypsies have joint top scorers in the league with both Jordan Flores and Jonathan Ofolabi on five goals.

PREDICTION

1-1

Shelbourne

Injured: Matty Smith

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Bohemians

Injured: n/a

Doubtful: n/a

Suspended: None

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) July 13, 2023