Shamrock Rovers -v- UCD

• Simon O'Gorman
• Thu, Apr 21 2011


Shamrock Rovers, fresh from securing a place in the Setanta Cup final, return to league action at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night when they face a UCD side who are currently struggling at the wrong end of the table. (Kick-off, 8pm)

Rovers’ boss Michael O’Neill welcomes back both Gary Twigg and Chris Turner for this weekend’s game against UCD but will again be without defender Craig Sives and midfielder Stephen O’Donnell who have not recovered from the hamstring injuries that have kept them out over the past few weeks.

He will also be without the services of Gary McCabe who was given a straight red card in last Friday’s derby encounter with Bohemians at Dalymount Park. The 1-1 draw against their arch rivals led to some criticism of the current champions, as much for their style of play as the loss of two points, but O’Neill will be content to have earned a draw at a venue where wins have been hard to come by in recent years.

Rovers performance against Bray Wanderers two weeks ago, when Pat Devlin’s side won 1-0 at Tallaght, is likely to be of more concern. It was a night when Rovers dominated possession but failed to pose sufficient threat in front of goal, a situation that the joint league leaders will hope is not repeated against UCD.

The bare facts show that the Hoops have won only one of their last four league games and anything less than three points against the Students would be considered a bad night at the office. UCD won their opening league fixture against Basement club Drogheda United but have failed to win since then, picking up only two draws, away to Galway and St Pats.

Nor have UCD been setting the world alight in front of goal, scoring only three times in their seven league games to date. Manager Martin Russell will have defender Sean Harding available following his recovery from injury but striker Cillian Morrison is still out.

"We got a little boost from the Pat's result”, said Russell, “with what was a deserved point. Everyone wants to play in these games; against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium. We are aware that it's a tough challenge but we look forward to these challenges."

Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Stephen O’Donnell, Craig Sives (both hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Gary McCabe.

UCD
Injured: Cillian Morrison (ankle).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

Paddy Power Odds: Shamrock Rovers 1/3; Draw 7/2; UCD 8/1.

Extratime prediction: A 3-0 win for the home side.