Shamrock Rovers -v- Drogheda United

• John Robert Dunne
• Sat, May 30 2009


Shamrock Rovers entertain Drogheda United at Tallaght Stadium in a match they will be expected to win to confirm their place in the top four. Despite Drogheda’s much improved form in recent weeks they remain bottom after 13 games played. Rovers themselves are enjoying an excellent run at the moment having lost only one of their last nine league games.

Hoops boss Michael O’Neill has only one injury concern with Shane Robinson rated as doubtful due to a hamstring strain. Stephen Bradley is suspended and thus misses out. O’Neill was very impressed with the application his side showed in the scoreless draw away to Derry City last week. “It was a game we could have and maybe should have won. We certainly created the better chances in the first half and overall it was a pretty good team performance. Derry came at us in the second half but we knew that would happen and I felt we defended well when we had to. It was a very open game and we left reasonably happy with a point.”

After the recent victory against Bohemians, O’Neill was asked were Rovers now genuine title challengers. His coy reply was to “Ask me after the Derry game.” He might not be bold enough to say yes after a draw but with a home game on Tuesday against Dundalk he might be forced to become more ambitious. “We’re a part time team and I think people have to take that into account, but I thought we gave as good as we got. There’s actually a sense of disappointment that the boys didn’t manage to nick a win, but that’s a good thing, I think that’s a sign of how the team has progressed.”

Drogheda will be without Robbie Farrell while ex-Rovers duo Jamie Duffy and Paul Crowley are set to miss out due to injury and suspension respectively. Manager Alan Matthews has been impressed with Rovers of late but he is confident his team can get a result. “Shamrock Rovers deservedly find themselves high up the table at the moment. They’ve had two great results in the last two weeks. Michael O’Neill has brought in some good players for the campaign which is reflected in their league position. I’ve been impressed with them so far.”

After a terrible start to the season Drogheda no longer look certainties for the drop. After their first win of the campaign against Bray they got a good point against Dundalk and only conceded an injury time winner to Bohemians last week. “At Dalymount we went toe to toe with the league champions and our performance most certainly warranted a point,” says Matthews. “We take what we can from a defeat like we suffered on Friday: a) we try to make sure that we don’t concede a goal like that again under the circumstances and b) we must take as many positives as possible from the match.”

It will not be a straight forward match for Rovers but they have to start as favourites. There is sense that the Tallaght Stadium came to life following the dramatic last gasp victory against Bohs two weeks ago and they will be looking to continue this form.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Despite Drogheda’s recent improvements I am going for a home win. 2-0 to Rovers.