League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Shamrock Rovers

DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders come into Friday’s match sitting three points off bottom spot where their Louth rivals Dundalk currently sit.

They only have the one win from their last six games and that was a 2-1 victory over the Lilywhites. Kevin Doherty’s side are four behind eighth placed Sligo Rovers.

In the only match between United and the Hoops so far this season, Drogheda were defeated 4-0 in Tallaght with Johnny Kenny, Aaron Greene, Darragh Burns and Josh Honohoan on the scoresheet on a night when Drogheda ended the match with ten men following Jack Keaney’s harsh red card.

Last time out it was a 4-2 defeat away to Waterford. Drogheda led at the break through Adam Foley’s first league goal of the season, as the winger got on the end of goalkeeper Andrew Wogan’s long kickout.

Drogheda doubled their lead just seconds into the second half, as Foley provided the assist for Bawa. 

However, a 19th minute spell turned the game on its head, as Waterford scored four goals without reply. Former Shamrock Rovers striker Padraig Among netted a 13 minute hattrick with Darragh Power scoring the fourth.

Both Warren Davis and Aaron McNally are doubts for the game. 

Stephen Bradley speaking about the Drogs noted that “it will be a difficult game “ on Friday.

“Drogheda are a good side when they’re on it. Last week they were 2-0 up and will feel they should win the game. So we know they’re dangerous, we know what they have so we’ll go there, respect them and go to win the game.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Rovers fell nine points off top spot after their 2-0 home defeat to league leaders Shelbourne last week. They lost three defenders to injury before half time – and Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke and Josh Honohan will remain out for Friday’s match – and then had Pico Lopes sent off in the second half.

With Lopes’ one match suspension, the Hoops are beyond being down to the bare bones at the back. Lee Grace is fit but Sean Hoare still remains a doubt.

A fleeting thought that almost might have crossed Stephen Bradley’s mind was asking Collie O’Neill for a lend of his centre back pairing of Jess Hennessy and Shauna Fox from the Hoops Premier Division side.

Bradley, speaking to ShamrockRovers.ie, reflected on that defeat to Damien Duff’s Shelbourne side. 

“When you looked at the performance as a whole, I thought we were really good to be honest. We couldn’t have asked much more from the players. First 30 minutes we were brilliant, should’ve been two or three up. We gave away a really poor first goal.

"Then we had the injury disruptions after that which slowed and changed the rhythm of the game. Second half we took control of the game again, but we sloppily gave them another penalty.

“We controlled the game, created good chances, more chances against Shelbourne than we have done for quite some time.

"On another day we score two or three goals and even with the two penalties, sending off and the three injuries, we still should’ve got something out of the game. 

“When you lose, you learn a lot. We don’t just brush over it and pretend it didn’t happen, we’ve lost the game for a reason, we need to understand why, and try ensure it doesn’t happen again.

"But the mood has been ok, the players aren’t silly, they know that overall we performed really well, when we went down to ten we created really good opportunities. So it’s about understanding what happened and what went wrong, then thinking 90% was really positive and to understand that also.”

Referee: Rob Harvey

MATCH STATS

Evan Wier and Frantz Pierrot are the top scorers for the home side so far this season with four league goals each. 

Aaron Greene has scored most for the Hoops with eight and Johnny Kenny has seven goals.

When the teams played last season, both games at Weavers Park ended in draws - 1-1 draw in February and a scoreless draw in July. In Tallaght in May, Drogheda won 2-1 thanks to goals from Freddie Draper and Dayle Rooney, before in October Rovers ran out 5-0 winners. 

PREDICTION

2-1 away win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Gary O’Neill, Dan Cleary, Trevor Clarke, Josh Honohan, Darragh Burns, Sean Kavanagh

Doubtful: Sean Hoare, Rory Gaffney

Suspended: Pico Lopes

Drogheda United

Injured: None  

Doubtful: Warren Davis, Aaron McNally

Suspended: None