Shamrock Rovers travel to Drogheda United on Friday evening looking to strengthen their position at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division table.
At a time when the visitors hold a four-point advantage in first place, the home side sit just two points clear of the relegation zone.
Match preview
With just four defeats from their 24 league fixtures this campaign, it is fair to say that Shamrock deserve to be sitting as the frontrunners in the second half of 2023.
However, three of those losses have come in the last eight games, with the most recent occurring at fourth-placed Dundalk on June 30 as Rovers went down by a 2-0 scoreline.
That result brought to an end a five-match undefeated streak, one which had included four victories, but Stephen Bradley will now know that his team are very much in a competitive title race.
In the game preceding that disappointment, Shamrock had impressed in edging out third-placed Derry City by a 1-0 margin, but they had previously let slip a two-goal lead to draw with Bohemians.
While complacency may not have necessarily been a thing for Shamrock, the results in their latest triple-header means that there will not be any going forward, something which may bode them well ahead of encounters with the lower teams.
From Drogheda's perspective, they are battling to avoid the drop, sitting in the same position that they finished during 2022, and it is a consequence of winning just six of their 22 games this season.
Nevertheless, three of those triumphs have been posted in the last seven matches, most notably against second-placed St Patrick's Athletic who they beat 2-1 on home territory on June 9.
Although they let slip a lead at relegation rivals Cork City last Friday, Kevin Doherty will be content with 10 points being accumulated from a possible 21.
Games such as this one would usually be regarded as free hits, yet Drogheda impressively beat the current leaders away from home when they prevailed 2-1 on May 19.
Team News
Barring any injury issues, Doherty could stick with a similar Drogheda XI from the last game with his side leading before alterations were made after taking the lead.
Adam Foley netted for the third successive match during the draw with Cork and should get the nod ahead of Aaron McNally.
Freddie Draper had been Drogheda's leading goalscorer with eight strikes but the teenager has since returned to parent club Lincoln City, as Elicha Ahui has done with Jarlath Jones potentially being required to deputise at right-back.
Bradley will likely tinker with his Shamrock starting lineup after the defeat at Dundalk with Graham Burke and Rory Gaffney both pushing for starting roles.
Darragh Nugent and Liam Burt are also options if Bradley wishes to freshen up his midfield.
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
Wogan; Jones, Keeley, Adegboyega, Weir; Brennan, Deegan; Noone, Markey, Rooney; Foley
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Lopes, Cleary, Hoare; Gannon, Poom, Towell, Watts, Kavanagh; Greene, Gaffney
We say: Drogheda United 1-3 Shamrock Rovers
Drogheda will be hoping that playing in front of their own supporters can act as the catalyst for a famous win on Friday evening. However, we cannot look past Shamrock, who we expect to come through a competitive opening hour before running away with the win.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Darren Plant
