Two teams fighting at opposite ends of the League of Ireland Premier Division table will do battle in a key contest on Friday, as Shelbourne welcome Dundalk to Tolka Park.
Despite suffering a defeat last time out, the hosts remain at the top of the table with a two-point lead over second place, while their visitors narrowed their gap to automatic safety with a crucial return to winning ways against St Patrick's Athletic on Monday.
Match preview
Shelbourne return to action on Friday aiming to bounce back to winning ways and strengthen their position at the summit of the League of Ireland Premier Division, having suffered a rare setback last time out in what has been an eye-catching start to the campaign.
Aiming to win the top flight for the 14th time in their history and the first time since 2006 after a fourth-placed finish last time around, the Shels have established them as frontrunners this term by earning 37 points from their first 20 outings, winning 10 of those while only suffering three defeats.
That has largely been down to their fine defensive record thus far, with no other side conceding as few as the 14 goals that Damien Duff's side have shipped thus far, and they pulled clear at the summit with an eight-game unbeaten run between late April and late May, collecting 16 points and only allowing three goals along the way.
That hot streak culminated in consecutive triumphs over Waterford, St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers, with Will Jarvis netting both goals in a 2-0 victory away at the latter to extend their lead over the defending champions, but they were unable to extend the run any further last time out, as they hosted Sligo Rovers and left empty-handed owing to a 2-1 defeat, with Fabrice Hartmann netting the decisive goal for the visitors 21 minutes from time after Sean Boyd drew the Shels level on the hour mark.
Despite seeing their unbeaten streak come to an end in disappointing fashion last week, Shelbourne do still boast a two-point lead over second-placed Derry City with a game in hand and a four-point advantage over Shamrock Rovers, and they will bid to quickly bounce back and extend their cushion with a return to winning ways on Friday.
They meet a Dundalk side who are desperate for three points in their own fight at the other end of the division, having moved closer to safety last time out after a tough start to the campaign.
Following third and fifth-placed finishes in the last two seasons, Friday's visitors found themselves in a concerning position ahead of the halfway mark of the 2024 campaign, sitting at the foot of the table having earned just nine points and one victory from their first 15 outings.
The Lilywhites have shown signs of life since, though, firstly bouncing back from consecutive defeats with a 1-0 victory over title-chasing Shamrock Rovers thanks to John Mountney's injury-time winner, only to suffer a 2-0 loss in the following trip to Galway United under the new management of Jon Daly.
Then on the back of a creditable goalless draw with second-placed Derry City, Daly's men most recently visited St Patrick's Athletic on Monday and took another important three-point haul from an eventful contest, having gone three goals up inside 25 minutes through Ryan O'Kane and a Jamie Gullan brace, only to have to hold on for a narrow win after Chris Forrester and Jamie Lennon reduced the deficit to one in the first half.
While they still occupy the relegation playoff place and trail eighth-placed St Pat's by seven points, Dundalk should certainly feel a boost from their recent improvement while holding two games in hand on the side above them, and they will bid to continue their climb towards automatic safety with another victory on Friday.
Team News
Damien Duff is unlikely to make many changes to his league-leading Shelbourne side on Friday, with Sean Boyd continuing to lead the line having notched up seven league goals so far this term.
Hull City loanee Will Jarvis has managed seven of his own in the Irish top flight, alongside three assists, and he should line up on the wing with Matty Smith hoping to get the nod alongside Boyd again.
Mainstays Paddy Barrett and Gavin Molloy will continue to partner up at the heart of the back four, while Mark Coyle and JJ Lunney should both keep their places in midfield.
Dundalk should again line up in a 4-4-2 shape for Friday's contest, with Jamie Gullan bound to continue up front with confidence after taking his tally to five league goals for the season with his first-half brace in their 3-2 win over St Patrick's Athletic last time out.
He will be partnered by Cameron Elliott, while Daryl Horgan and Ryan O'Kane remain danger men on the wings in a shape similar to that of their hosts.
With Huddersfield Town loanee Scott High remaining sidelined by an injury, Paul Doyle and Hayden Muller should again partner up in the midfield, while Sunderland loanee Zak Johnson will continue to join Andy Boyle at the heart of a back four.
Shelbourne possible starting lineup:
Kearns; Gannon, Molloy, Barrett, Ledwidge; Caffrey, Coyle, Lunney, Jarvis; Smith, Boyd
Dundalk possible starting lineup:
Munro; Davies, Johnson, Boyle, Bradshaw; Horgan, Doyle, Muller, O'Kane; Elliott, Gullan
We say: Shelbourne 2-1 Dundalk
While the two sides had contrasting results last time out, harming the hosts' position at the summit of the table and giving the visitors renewed confidence in their survival bid, Shelbourne have shown their superior quality throughout the campaign thus far, and we back Duff's men to make a swift return to winning ways on Friday.
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Sam Varley
