Drogheda United -v- Shamrock Rovers

• Emmet Maloney
• Thu, Apr 15 2010


The bookie would have snatched your hand off before the start of the season if you had walked in and predicted that this game would be between two mid table teams. Due to Rovers indifferent start and Drogheda having picked up points recently that is loosely what we have. However everyone associated with both teams both teams will be hoping that recent up turns in their fortunes will continue.

Full panel for Matthews
Alan Matthews was in cautious form when he spoke to the droghedaunited.ie site on the eve of the match "We will be looking to keep up our good form from Inchicore, I have no serious team issues going into the game which is always good. Rovers got a good win last week and they are always going to be a tough prospect."

Matthews will be happy that he has a full squad to chose from as he has no suspensions and no serious injury worries with both Robbie Martin and Brendan McGill having resumed full training and are expected to be fit for the game. The Drogs league form has taken a turn for the better recently with two home draws against Sligo and Bray being followed by a win at St Pats.

There has been no shortage of goals at Hunky Dorys Park this season sadly for the home fans the majority of them have been going into the Boynesiders net with just a single clean sheet and four goals scored to show against nine goals conceded. However if you are an optimistic Drog then you might just see the first green shoots of a defensive tightening with back to back to back league clean sheets and an ability to create and take chances will mean that the Louth men can look forward with some confidence to this fixture.

Tough trip forecast by O'Neill
Michael O'Neill is taking nothing for granted for Rovers trip up the M1 as he told shamrockrovers.ie “It won't be an easy one against Drogheda. I’ve seen them twice this year and I’m expecting a very tough game on the tight pitch. We won up there last year, so that’s a help for us, but they are also coming off the back of a good result last week – getting a win over St Pat’s. So we are certainly not taking anything for granted.”

But he sees reasons for optimism after their home win over Bohs "I was delighted with the performance, work rate and of course result of the game. But while it was a great result, it’s still only three points, and those three points count for just the same as three would against Drogheda tomorrow night."

“But it does mean we are four games unbeaten now and we have kept three clean sheets in those – so we are going in the right direction, we just need to continue in that way.”

Happy hunting ground for Hoops
Shamrock Rovers recent trips to Drogheda have been fruitful affairs and I believe you have to go back to 2005 for their last defeat there. Last season brought a win and a draw for the Dublin team and score draws have featured heavily over the years in the fixture.

Venue: Hunky Dorys Park, Drogheda

Paddypower.com Odds: Drogheda United 3/1, Draw 9/4 , Shamrock Rovers 10/11

Referee: A. Buttimer

Drogheda United:
Suspended: none
Injured: none
Doubtful: none

Shamrock Rovers:
Suspended: none
Injured:Dessie Baker (broken arm), Pat Sullivan (knee), Craig Sives (hamstring) and Stephen Bradley (wrist)
Doubtful: Stephen Rice (ankle), Paddy Kavanagh (hamstring) and Ollie Cahill (ankle)

Extratime.ie Prediction: Drogheda aren't great at defending and Rovers aren't great at scoring so 1-1.