Shelbourne -v- Dundalk

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne go into Friday’s Airtricity League clash against Dundalk at Tolka Park (kick-off 8pm) in eighth place in the league table but know that a win could push them up to fifth place.  Shels have lost all three games they have played since the return from the mid-season break.  They were unlucky to lose 3-2 to Shamrock Rovers at home on their  return to action and they followed that up last Friday by losing 1-0 away to second placed St. Patrick’s Athletic. 

Alan Mathews made seven changes to the side that he picked against Pats for this week’s 4-2 defeat to Shamrock Rovers in the EA Sports Cup quarter final so a number of players will be returning to his starting eleven for the league game against The Lilywhites.  The Reds were 4-0 down at half time against Rovers but Mathews will have been pleased with his side not conceeding any further goals in the second half and scoring two of their own.

They will be missing two players due to suspension.  Anto Murphy received a two match ban for his red card against Rovers.  Barry Clancy picked up a red card towards the end of the St. Pats game. Ian Ryan will have a late fitness test ahead of kick off due to an injury in that game last Friday.

Shelbourne manager Alan Mathews, speaking to ShelsTV about the league defeat to Pats, rued the early concession of the goal that turned out to be the winner.  “First half we were too loose and gave away a very soft goal and didn’t really compete,” said Mathews.  “The second half we did compete – we competed really well – we could have got something out of it, but overall it’s not good enough.

“We need to make sure that when you play against the top sides, or any the teams in this league, we have to work hard for goals and we’ve just given away a very cheap goal tonight and that gave us a mountain to climb.

“Despite all our best efforts in the second half – Philly [Hughes] did everything right, it was from good play and a good cross and on another night it would have dropped in. Unfortunately it was the only real chance we got.”

“We’ll train during the week and we’ll be well prepared for the game with Dundalk on Friday night”

DUNDALK

If results don’t go Dundalk’s way they could finish Friday evening at the bottom of the Airtricity League table.  Sean McCaffrey will want his squad to put off-field issues to the back of their minds as they seek out their first league win since they went to Inchicore and won 2-1 at the end of May.
 

Last week the club made an appeal to supporters for additional financial contributions and welcomed any discussions from any group regarding taking over the club.  Earlier this week, the DFC Trust met with Gerry Matthews to discuss the future of the club and the feasibility of a takeover in light of Matthews’ announcing he was not going to renew the license for the club for the 2013 season.

On the pitch, Dundalk were leading 1-0 coming up towards half time last week against league leaders Sligo Rovers in Oriel Park.  Michael Rafter scored the Dundalk goal on his return from suspension. However, they allowed Sligo’s Danny North score either side of the half time break to earn three points for the Bit O’Red.

In their clash with Shels early on in the season Dundalk earned a point following an entertaining scoreless draw at Oriel Park on Good Friday.  The Lilywhites will have to do without Luke Danville and Ger Hanley who has a broken wrist. 

Referee: Alan Kelly.

MATCH STATS

Philly Hughes is joint fourth in the Airtricity League Premier Division goalscorer table with seven goals. 

It is 2009 since these teams last met at Tolka Park. That was an EA Sports game and Shels won that match 3-0.  The previous year was the last time they played at Tolka Park in the league and that game ended in a 0-0 stalemate.

Dundalk have only won two games from their last eleven league matches.

BETTING

Shelbourne 1/2 ; Draw 11/4; Dundalk 11/2.

PREDICTION

 2-0 win to Shels

Shelbourne Injury News: None.

Dundalk Injury News: Ger Hanley, Luke Danville.

Dundalk Suspension News: None.