League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Athlone Town

SHELBOURNE

Shelbourne take on the challenge of Athlone Town at Tolka Park in their penultimate home match in the SSE Airtricity First Division on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

Shels put in a gritty display in their last league match before the international break and defied the odds when they earned a 1-1 draw away to league leaders Waterford at the Regional Sports Centre.

They survived the concession of an early penalty award to take the lead after five minutes through Adam Evans only for Aaron Drinan to level for the home side just after the break.

This impressive result came off the back of a deserved 1-0 win over St. Patrick’s Athletic at Richmond Park in the Leinster Senior Cup semi-final.

Shelbourne’s recent league form in the SSE Airtricity First Division has been poor with the Drumcondra side only registering one win from their last six matches, a 3-1 away win over Longford Town at the end of July.

Owen Heary’s side have lost three times against Cobh Ramblers, Cabinteely and Wexford and drawn with Waterford and UCD.

Shels boss Owen Heary has a number of absentees to contend with as both Aaron Ashe and Reece McEnteer are still unavailable through injuries but there are no players suspended this week.

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town have little to play for apart from pride except to try to avoid the prospect of finishing bottom of the SSE Airtricity First Division and they bid to take all three points back to the midlands

Athlone suffered heartbreak in stoppage time in their last league match against Cobh Ramblers at the Athlone Town Stadium. Cian Coleman stunning the home fans with a late winner to snatch a 1-0 victory for the Ramblers.

The Town have been on a dreadful run in the league with just one win in their last 15 matches in the SSE Airtricity First Division with a 2-1 victory over Cobh Ramblers as far back as early May. Athlone have been leaking goals and have not kept a single clean sheet in the league since April.

The Town have also been on the receiving of heavy drubbings in recent weeks having been thrashed 7-1 by Longford Town in the league and massacred 7-0 by SSE Airtricity Premier Division champions elect Cork City in the second round of the FAI Cup.

Referee: Jason Mannix

MATCH FACTS

Shelbourne and Athlone Town have met each other on three occasions already this season in the SSE Airtricity First Division with Shels winning all three matches (1-4, 2-1 & 1-3).

Shelbourne and Athlone Town have played each other 34 times since 1994 with Shelbourne dominating the fixture with 23 wins with Athlone winning five times, and six draws.

Shelbourne scored 70 goals with an average of 2.06 per game while Athlone found the net 32 times with an average of 0.94 per game.

Shelbourne are currently sixth in the SSE Airtricity First Division on 31 points with eight wins, seven draws and ten defeats from their 25 matches.

Athlone Town are currently in eighth place in the SSE Airtricity First Division on 17 points with four wins, five draws and 16 defeats from their 25 games.

BETTING

Shelbourne 1/5 Draw 11/2 Athlone Town 10/1

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 2-0 Athlone Town

Shelbourne

Injured: Aaron Ashe, Reece McEnteer.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Athlone Town

Injured: Unavailable.

Doubtful: Unavailable.

Suspended: Igors Labuts, Dragos Sfrijan.