Credit: Eoin Smith (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Longford Town -v- Shelbourne
- Dave Donnelly
- Sat, Apr 15 2017
LONGFORD TOWN
Longford Town continue their 18 month-long search for a home league victory with the visit of in-form Shelbourne to City Calling Stadium on Saturday night (kick-off 7.30pm).
It's the first of two meetings between the sides in the space of three days as Shels return the favour by hosting Longford in the EA Sports Cup on Monday evening at 7pm.
Alan Mathews' side have stemmed the loss of form that saw them lose four straight games, including a Leinster Senior Cup exit to non-league Firhouse Clover.
They're now unbeaten in three, including a draw with leaders Waterford and an EA Sports Cup win over rivals Athlone, and will see this as their best chance yet to break that duck.
Mathews will go up against his former side with four key absentees, including three strikers, as Noel Haverty continues to struggle with an ankle injury.
Top scorer Davy O'Sullivan is out with a groin problem, Don Cowan has a hamstring issue while Jake Kelly broke his nose in training during the week.
SHELBOURNE
Shelbourne are now unbeaten in five, since the 4-0 defeat at UCD in March, and travel to Longford on the back of three straight wins.
Owen Heary's side edged the Dublin Derby away at in-form Cabinteely last week thanks to James English's goal three minutes from time.
And the Drumcondra side finally seem to have hit a vein of form to match their pre-season record of five wins from five as confidence continues to grow on the banks of the Tolka.
Once again, Heary is without injured quartet Aidan Collins, Dylan Kavanagh, Niall Lanigan and Mikey Murphy, while there are no suspensions.
Referee: Alan Carey
MATCH STATS
The sides have already met once this season, on the opening day, when the game finished scoreless after Davy O'Sullivan missed a penalty for the visitors.
Previous to that, the teams hadn't faced in the league since 2014, when Shels won two games to Longford's one, while a fourth ended all square.
In the past ten years, Shels have the upper hand in meetings between the side with 11 wins to three, while four games have finished level. Shels have scored 35 to Longford's 22.
BETTING
Longford Town 11/8; Draw 9/4; Shelbourne 15/8.
PREDICTION
Longford Town 1 – 1 Shelbourne
Longford Town
Injured: Don Cowan, Jake Kelly, Noel Haverty, Davy O'Sullivan.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Shelbourne
Injured: Aidan Collins, Dylan Kavanagh, Niall Lanigan, Mikey Murphy.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
