League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Shamrock Rovers

Drogheda United will be looking to break into the top-half of the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday evening as they welcome Shamrock Rovers to United Park, while Rovers themselves will be looking to break into the league’s top three with a win.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Friday’s hosts come into the game sitting in ninth-place in the table with 22 points. This tally has them a comfortable 16 points clear of bottom-placed Limerick and within touching distance of the top-half of the table as Longford Town and Bray Wanderers, who currently occupy sixth and seventh place in the table, both find themselves on 23 points.

United have not enjoyed their best form of the season of late, and will not want to be reminded of the fact that they have not won a league match in over a month, with their last win coming in Dalymount Park as they saw off Bohemians with a 1-0 win on June 26th. It should be noted, however, that this record is not quite as bad as it may initially seem, given they have only played three matches since, with two of their defeats coming against title hopefuls St. Patrick’s Athletic and current champions Dundalk.

Being part of the mini-group within the twelve Premier Division teams – which consists of Drogs, Longford, Bray and Galway United, with Sligo Rovers and Derry City slightly further back – Johnny McDonnell’s side will be keen to pick up points in the coming weeks as they look to avoid playing in the relegation play-off come the season’s end.

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Rovers returned to domestic action after a month of focusing on their short-lived European adventure last Friday evening and comfortably claimed all three points with a convincing 4-1 defeat of Limerick, who look destined for the drop this year as they sit stranded at the foot of the table, ten points behind Sligo.

Pat Fenlon’s side come into the game in fourth-place in the table, 11 points behind league leaders Dundalk. A win could see them move above Pat’s in third, who share an identical points tally and goal difference to the Hoops.

Despite only sitting in fourth-place, the Tallaght side boast the impressive feat of having lost just once so far this season, a record that is matched only by the league’s top two: Dundalk and Cork City.

One player to keep an eye on in Friday’s clash will be 20-year-old Brandon Miele, who has been attracting a lot of praise from supporters and pundits with his performances this season – the former Newcaslte United midfielder is the Hoops' second-highest league goalscorer this season with seven goals from 14 appearances, including a brace in last week's win over table-proppers Limerick.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

MATCH STATS

The previous meeting of the two sides this season took place on May 1st, and saw the Hoops run out 1-0 victors.

Rovers also edged the encounters last year, winning in both of their trips to United Park with scorelines of 2-0 and 2-1, while Drogheda earned a 1-0 win in Tallaght Stadium.

BETTING

Drogheda United 7/1; Draw 3/1; Shamrock Rovers 4/9.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1-2 Shamrock Rovers.

Drogheda United

Injured: Fionn Reilly.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Sean O'Connor, Keith Fahey, Stephen McPhail, Damien Duff.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.