Looking to strengthen their position at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division, Shamrock Rovers will entertain Drogheda United on Saturday.
Three straight wins have seen the Dublin outfit move eight points clear at the summit, while their visitors find themselves one spot above the relegation playoff place.
Match preview
After winning their second straight League of Ireland Premier Division title last term, Shamrock Rovers have, for the most part, continued their formidable domestic form this season, establishing themselves at the summit of the Irish top flight.
With 39 points from 17 outings, Stephen Bradley's side boasted a comfortable lead, but two defeats in a three-game span against Saturday's opponents and Dundalk quickly saw the latter cut the gap while keeping two games in hand.
The Hoops have been able to bounce back from that slight blip impressively, though, firstly returning to winning ways with a 1-0 victory over rivals Bohemians thanks to Rory Gaffney's goal, before making it three on the bounce with narrow triumphs over St Patrick's Athletic and strugglers Finn Harps.
The Dublin giants then carried that positive form into their Champions League first-qualifying-round tie with Hibernians, as a 3-0 home win was enough to seal an aggregate victory, with Ronan Finn, Dylan Watts and Gaffney on the scoresheet, only for them to suffer a 3-0 defeat of their own in the first leg of their second-round tie with Ludogorets Razgrad last time out.
With their hopes of reaching Europe's top competition majorly dented, Bradley's men will turn their attention back to the league and hope to gain revenge on Drogheda with a victory to strengthen their already-favourable eight-point lead over third-placed Derry City.
The visitors, meanwhile, will arrive aiming to pull off another upset, having struggled for large parts of the top-flight campaign so far.
Kevin Doherty's side had to endure a tough start and quickly found themselves fighting at the wrong end of the division, but two key spells have, thus far, kept them out of the relegation places, as they firstly produced a six-game unbeaten run including two wins between mid-March and mid-April.
They then bounced back from four straight defeats with consecutive victories, including the surprise 1-0 triumph over the league leaders thanks to Ryan Brennan's goal, before playing out three draws to move further from the bottom two.
The Drogs would again upset the odds earlier in July, as Dean Williams's early goal made the only difference in a 1-0 win over then-second-placed Dundalk, only for them to lose by the same scoreline last time out as Liam Burt hit the only goal in a 1-0 away win for Bohemians.
Now with a 13-point lead over Finn Harps in the relegation playoff place, Drogheda should feel relatively comfortable but will still look for positive results to ensure they are not dragged into the mix should the ninth-placed side produce an upturn in form.
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Team News
Shamrock Rovers will again be able to call on top scorer Graham Burke, who came off the bench against Ludogorets after missing their last league game, but he will face stiff competition to start in attack.
Rory Gaffney is bound to keep his place up front, having hit seven goals and provided eight assists in 25 appearances across league and Champions League qualifying action so far this season.
Key midfielder Richie Towell played an attacking role in their trip to Ludogorets, and he should again have a place in the starting XI after settling for a substitute appearance in their last league win over Finn Harps.
Drogheda United's attack should again be led by young forward Dean Williams, who has netted six Premier Division goals so far this term.
Captain Gary Deegan has played in every minute of top-flight action this season, other than a contest with Derry City for which he was supsended, and he should again partner Darragh Nugent in the engine room.
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Mannus; Gannon, Lopes, Grace; Finn, McCann, O'Neill, Kavanagh; Towell; Gaffney, Burke
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
McCabe; Heeney, Quinn, Cowan, Weir; Nugent, Deegan; Markey, Clarke, Rooney; Williams
We say: Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Drogheda United
Appearing to be storming towards another league title, Shamrock Rovers are unlikely to be derailed on Saturday, given the superior quality they have throughout their squad.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Sam Varley
