League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians

SHAMROCK ROVERS

League leaders Shamrock Rovers welcome Dublin rivals Bohemians to Tallaght Stadium on Tuesday night (kick-off 8pm) as they look to continue their fantastic run of form and pick up their ninth win on the bounce.

Incredibly, Shamrock Rovers have remained unbeaten in the league since the last time these two sides met in Dalymount in February, a game which Bohs won 1-0.

Stephen Bradley’s side are flying since then though as they go in search of their ninth successive win tomorrow evening.

A hugely important week for Stephen Bradley and his squad in terms of their title ambitions got off to the perfect start on Friday with a hard fought 1-0 victory away to Derry City on Friday night.

Tomorrow evening will see Bohs welcomed to Tallaght before a tough trip to Oriel Park on Friday to face Dundalk.

With Dundalk defeating UCD on Easter Monday, Shamrock Rovers maintain a seven point lead ahead of Tuesday’s fixture with Bohs a further point back in third.

Shamrock Rovers are unbeaten at home so far this season with five wins and a draw in six league games to date scoring thirteen goals in the process and conceding just two.

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians have had a hugely impressive start to the season with Keith Long and his side occupying third place in the league ahead of a huge game on Tuesday evening.

The Gypsies have picked up twenty three points from a possible thirty three so far this season and are a side enjoying their football at the moment and growing in confidence week by week.

They were unlucky last Monday evening in Oriel Park not to come away from the game with at least a point conceding an injury time penalty which saw them lose 1-0 to the current champions.

They bounced back in style on Friday night though recording a 3-0 victory at home to UCD and will make the short journey across the city to Tallaght on Tuesday with plenty of confidence and hope that they can take something from the game.

The early season league fixture between the sides ended in a 1-0 victory for Bohs in Dalymount back in February and their derby record last season was almost perfect with Long’s side recording three victories and a draw in the four meetings between the sides in the 2018 league season.

Since the last league meeting between the sides back in February Rovers have remained unbeaten and will be looking for their ninth victory in a row.

With eight clean sheets in the league so far and having yet to concede a goal from play, Keith Long is rightly confident of his own side as he prepares for battle on Tuesday.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game Long said "We're in good form. Both teams have done very well so far this season. There is expectation at both clubs, but we are still underdogs.

"Rovers are rightly being tipped for the league title. That is to be expected given their level of investment in their squad and the quality of player they've brought in.

"We've had a good start to the season ourselves though, built on a mean defence.

"Hopefully we can start the game quickly and put in a positive performance. We're looking forward to it.

"Tomorrow will be tough. We acquitted ourselves very well in Dundalk last week, deserved a result, but couldn't find the breakthrough.

"We followed that up with a good win against UCD but we were sluggish in the first half - we were much better in the second half - but we will need to start brightly against Rovers.

"There is great appetite for this fixture from both sets of supporters. You don't want to let your supporters down.

"Tallaght will be like a cauldron and even more so now with the new South Stand and hopefully we can do our bit to make sure the game can live up to its billing."

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers currently occupy top spot in the league having picked up an impressive total of thirty one points from a possible thirty six ahead of tomorrow evening’s game.

Bohs are also having a hugely impressive season so far with Keith Long’s side sitting in third place in the league with twenty three points from a possible thirty three so far.

The Gypsies won the first league fixture of the season between the sides at Dalymount Park on a 1-0 score line in Dalymount Park back in February.

Keith Long’s side won both league fixtures in Tallaght Stadium last season defeating their Dublin rivals 2-1 in April and again 1-0 later in the season in August.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 4/7; Draw 13/5; Bohemians 9/2

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Bohemians

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Unknown

Doubtful: Unknown

Suspended: None

Bohemians

Injured: Cristian Magerusan (cruciate)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None