Shelbourne -v- Bohemians
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SHELBOURNE
Shelbourne will be searching for their first league win of the season when they entertain neighbours Bohemians at Tolka Park on Monday evening. The Drumcondra side will be looking to bounce back following a heavy 4-0 defeat to Derry City on Friday evening.
They will be aiming to add to their solitary league goal this season, scored by Dean Kelly in the 3-1 defeat to Dundalk. The reds are again without injured duo Glenn Cronin and Ger Hanley who are still some weeks away from returning to fitness. Captain Graham Gartland will also miss the game as he serves the second and final game of his suspension.
The teams shared the spoils in their meetings last season with a win and a draw apiece from the three games.
BOHEMIANS
Bohemians will be looking to improve on their lacklustre performance on Friday evening which saw them go down 3-0 to league leaders Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park.
Manager Aaron Callaghan was impressed with some parts of the performance on Friday, “For long periods of the game I thought we played well, and moved the ball well,” said Callaghan. “The early goal was a kick in the teeth but we responded well and we were back in the game for 25 minutes after that. But we didn’t pass and move it as quickly as we would like and we’ve got to work on that.”
Callaghan is wary of the threat posed by Shelbourne, “They have a lot of experience through the side with players like Cronin, Crowley, Gartland and Hughes. But then, every team in this league has the potential to turn over any other.”
Captain Owen Heary will miss out on the game against his old club. He was forced off on Friday evening with a knee injury. It is likely he will be replaced by another ex-Shelbourne man, Stephen Paisley, who made his Bohs debut as a replacement for Heary against the Bit O’Red.
Bohs have failed to score in their last two league games and have missed energetic striker Chris Lyons who again misses out with an ankle injury.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
MATCH STATS
In the combined eight games the two sides have played this season they have only scored a total of four goals.
Bohemians won the corresponding fixture 1-2 last season
Philly Hughes was Shels top scorer in preseason with 3, but has yet to score in the league.
BETTING
Shelbourne 13/10; Draw 21/10; Bohemians 21/10.
PREDICTION
Both sides to find some goalscoring form. 2-1 Bohs.
Shelbourne
Injured: Ger Hanley, Glenn Cronin.
Suspended: Graham Gartland.
Bohemians
Injured: Owen Heary, Chris Lyons.
Suspended: None.
