Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
League Preview: UCD -v- Shelbourne
- Dave Donnelly
- Thu, Jun 02 2016
UCD
UCD welcome Shelbourne to Belfield having overtaken their Dublin rivals into third in the table following last week's victory over Athlone Town.
Having seen their promotion aspirations falter with a four-game winless streak in the league, the Students have now won two on the bounce and sit just four points behind second-placed Drogheda United.
“The most impressive part of the game was our ability not to panic as we headed into the final 10 minutes and we didn’t give away many chances,” manager Collie O'Neill told the club's website.
“Our fitness levels looked really good so it’s nice to see the hard work from the training ground paying off.
“Friday is going to be a much tougher test and it is important that we play at our best both individually and collectively for the full game if we are to get anything out of it. Shelbourne are a top quality side who are up there challenging us for the playoff spots and promotion themselves.
“It was a brilliant game earlier in the season in Tolka Park, and hopefully tonight will be another great game. That night it showed the importance of set pieces with Maxi getting on the end of two to score both our goals and they will be extremely important again tonight.”
O'Neill will be without defender Brian Shorthall and goalkeeper Conor O'Donnell with hamstring and shoulder injuries respectively.
SHELBOURNE
Shelbourne arrive at the UCD Bowl on the back of three successive defeats, but they'll take confidence after running close both Dundalk in the FAI Cup and Limerick last week.
Kevin Doherty's men have struggled for consistency this season – and the loss on Friday saw them drop two places to fifth – but a victory over the Students will send them into the break in reasonably good shape.
UCD were deserved winners when they visited Tolka Park earlier this season, but the Reds' away form has exceeded their home form this year, with three of their six away trips ending in a win so far.
“I thought that we were worth at least a draw [against Limerick,” Doherty told the club's webite.
“It would have been great for us to get even a point from the game. It would have been a bonus. It’s really frustrating.
“We’re certainly playing well enough to go [to UCD] and win the game, so hopefully we can go and do it.”
Last week's defeat saw Cian Kavanagh, Adam O'Connor and Gavin Boyne added to an injury list that already contained Stephen Elliott and Gareth Coughlan.
Referee: Simon Rogers.
MATCH STATS
The sides have met once in the league so far this year, with the Students emerging 2-1 winners at Tolka Park thanks to a brace from Maxi Kouogun.
The teams met four times last season, with both sides recording a home victory and away victory apiece as UCD progressed to the promotion play-off, where they were defeated by Finn Harps.
BETTING
UCD 13/10; Draw 5/2; Shelbourne 13/8.
PREDICTION
UCD 2 – 2 Shelbourne
UCD
Injured: Brian Shortall (hamstring), Conor O’Donnell (shoulder).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Shelbourne
Injured: Gareth Coughlan, Stephen Elliott, Adam O’Connor, Cian Kavanagh, Gavin Boyne.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
