UCD -v- Shamrock Rovers

Extratime.ie will have live updates with Simon O'Gorman and Kevin Fagan for tonight's game

Shamrock Rovers make the short trip to the Belfield Bowl on Monday night knowing that a win against UCD will secure their second consecutive Airtricity league title.  (Kick-off, 7.05pm)

The crucial run-in period has seen Rovers claim four wins and a draw in their last five league games, a sequence of results that have been enough to nudge them ahead of both Derry City and Sligo Rovers at the top of the table. They currently sit one point ahead of Sligo but with this trip to UCD being a game in hand for Michael O’Neill’s men. Should they win it the four point gap would be impossible to overcome with just one game left to play.

So far this season Rovers have utterly dominated the meetings between the sides, beating the Students 3-1 and 6-0 at home, and winning 6-1 at Belfield. They also met in the FAI Cup when a dramatic 2-2 draw at Tallaght was followed by another 6-0 win for Rovers in the replay.

So, with a goal difference of +19 from their 2011 meetings Rovers will surely be confident of gaining the points required to retain the league crown. But there will be a certain amount of confidence in the UCD camp that they can prove a substantial obstacle to Rovers’ ambitions.

Having endured a difficult season the Students have hit a seam of form in recent weeks, having won five of their last seven league games. Bohemians, Dundalk and St Pats have all been beaten, although they lost their most recent league encounter, a 0-2 reverse away to Bohs.

History also suggests that UCD may have more of a chance than they are generally being credited with. As Rovers closed in on the 2010 title they travelled to the Belfield Bowl and lost 3-2 in an extraordinary game. It was a result that almost precipitated a collapse in the Tallaght club’s title hopes.

UCD boss Martin Russell will have to plan without the suspended Samir Belhout and Daniel Ledwith, while goalkeeper Ger Barron is also unavailable through injury. Michael O’Neill also suffers from suspensions with Billy Dennehy, Gary Twigg and Chris Turner all banned for this game. He also has doubts over Karl Sheppard and Enda Stevens who both picked up knocks in the Europa League defeat away to PAOK.


UCD
Injured: Ger Barron.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Samir Belhout, Daniel Ledwith.

Shamrock Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Karl Sheppard, Enda Stevens.
Suspended: Billy Dennehy, Gary Twigg, Chris Turner.

Referee: Neil Doyle.
Paddy Power Odds: UCD 9/1; Draw 4/1; Rovers 2/7.
Extratime prediction: Rovers to get over the line with a 2-1 win.