League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Longford Town

SHELBOURNE

Seeking their seventh home league win on the spin, Shelbourne host Longford Town in a top of the table clash at Tolka Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Reds come into Friday night’s showdown fresh off the back of a nervy one-nil win at home to Cobh Ramblers at the Richmond Road venue last time out.

Shels, now top of the table, albeit, having played a game more than second placed Longford, are unbeaten in their previous three outings since their defeat away to Cabinteely.

The Reds have also won all of their home league games since losing to Cabo in early March.

Speaking to his club’s media team, Shels boss Ian Morris notes that his side must stay focused at the task on hand despite their position at the top of the pile.

“It’s been more consistent; we’ve started to play a certain way and stopped leaking goals while creating a lot of chances. Everyone is bouncing around the training ground and it’s great to see the camaraderie.

“I don’t think anyone can be carried away being 1st or being 6th, two bad match days could go against everyone, so we’ll be focusing on strengths.

“The next three, four games give us a chance to cement our place at the top so we need to keep believing and stay focused,” he told shelbournefc.ie.

John Ross Wilson and Daniel Byrne are the two only confirmed absentees for Morris’ side.



LONGFORD TOWN

Searching for a second win on the bounce, Longford Town make the difficult trip to Tolka Park on Friday evening to face table topping Shelbourne.

After two successive defeats against Cabinteely and Galway United, Town bounced back in the grand manner last time out with a convincing three-one derby win over Athlone Town.

Forward Dean Byrne impressed with a brace as Sam Verdon opened the scoring after just fifteen minutes.

Longford have not won a league game at Tolka Park since 2009, a 5-4 win over the Reds which effectively handed UCD the First Division title.

Speaking to LTFC.ie, Longford midfielder Jamie Hollywood admits that he is expecting a high-tempo clash at the Drumcondra venue on Friday evening. 



“You want to be playing in games like this. I’ve mentioned it already; the 6-1 defeat still is a bit sore from last year with a lot of us.

“The game got away from us because we felt we were well on top in the first half and then the sending off killed us. We were three-one down and we went for it, going close to make it three-two and then just like that it was 4-1 and the floodgates then opened.

“It wasn’t a 6-1 game, and I think that hurt us a bit because we really were on top and we probably felt like we should’ve won the game and I know it’s hard to believe when you lose 6-1 but we never stopped going forward.

“We probably could’ve sat in at 3-1 but that’s not like us. a few teams might want to do that, but we wouldn’t be like that. “The game is going to be high-tempo with both teams looking for a really big result.”

Sam Verdon is Longford Town’s only doubt for the game.

Referee: Alan Patchell

MATCH STATS

Longford Town have not won at Tolka Park in the First Division since 2009. De Town came out on top during that occasion with a thrilling 5-4 victory over a promotion hunting Shelbourne.

Tom King’s 87th minute winner proved decisive with UCD effectively securing the First Division crown on the same night.

Shels have only lost three times at home in the last 17 months at home. Only Drogheda United and Cabinteely have left the Richmond Road venue with the spoils since the start of the 2018 campaign.

BETTING

Shelbourne 13/10; Draw 2/1; Longford Town 2/1.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 1-2 Longford Town

Shelbourne

Injured: Daniel Byrne, John Ross Wilson.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Longford Town

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Sam Verdon.

Suspended: None.

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