Shamrock Rovers -v- UCD

• Seamus Egan
• Thu, Oct 18 2012




SHAMROCK ROVERS

Gary Twigg will make his final appearance at the Tallaght Stadium for Shamrock Rovers when they play host to UCD in the Airtricity League on Friday night (kick off 8.p.m).


Twigg, who has scored  a remarkable 84 competitive goals in his four seasons will be leaving Rovers at the end of the season.


Killian Brennan is set to miss the game with a calf injury. Ciaran Kilduff (throat infection), Ronan Finn (ankle) and Colin Hawkins (strain) are all doubtful for the game. Craig Sives will have a fitness test before the match. Gary McCabe returns from suspension, while Conor McCormack also  returns to the squad.


Shamrock Rovers director of football Brian Laws has hinted that he will make changes to the team after last week's 3-1 defeat at home to Derry City.


"It goes without saying that I will be looking for a response from the players after last week's very poor performance against Derry City. We will be mixing things up a bit in the team in order to spark a bit of life back into the side. It will also be Gary Twigg's last home game for the club and it would be good to send him off with a good performance and a win."

 

UCD

UCD will be hoping to follow up last Saturday's victory over Drogheda United, where the inform David McMillan scored the winner, with a victory against last season's league champions. The Students are currently 9th in the table.


Goalkeeper John Kelly is out for the season with a groin injury, while centre back David O’Connor will also miss the game through suspension after being sent off against Drogheda last week. Graham Rusk is still struggling with a shin injury. Striker Cillian Morrison is back training after an ankle injury but he may not be fit enough for Friday's match.
 

UCD manager Martin Russell is hoping that his side can finish the season strongly.  

 

“As always we are hoping that the lads can reach the best standards they can and finish the season as well as we can and there is no place to go better than Tallaght Stadium to try and test ourselves in regards to our development.”
 

REFEREE: P. Tuite


MATCH STATS

In 2009 Gary Twigg was named as Shamrock Rover's player of the year and in 2010 he was selected as Airtricity player of the year.
 

UCD came from two goals down to draw 2-2 with Shamrock Rovers in the league in May at the Tallaght Stadium.
 

David McMillan scored three goals in six appearances for Olympic FC in Australia.


BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 4/11 Draw 10/3 UCD 7/1.
 

PREDICTION
Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 UCD

 

Shamrock Rovers injury news: Killian Brennan.
Shamrock Rovers suspension news: None.
 

UCD injury news: John Kelly and Graham Rusk.
UCD suspension news: David O'Connor.