Dundalk v Shamrock

Dundalk vs Shamrock Rovers Preview

Dundalk play host to the Irish Premier Division league leaders, Shamrock Rovers, no doubt looking to extend their unbeaten run to five matches at Oriel Park on Friday night as the hosts look to put pressure on the teams above them and break into the top three in the division.

Three wins out of their last four matches overall will give Dundalk a welcome boost ahead of the visit from the league leaders following recent wins against UCD 4-1, Cork City 2-1 and a 2-1 win over Drogheda United, while also picking up a point in a 1-1 draw with St Patrick's Athletic as well.

Dundalk still find themselves three points adrift of the likes of Derry City and St Patrick's Athletic and prior to their four-match unbeaten run, Dundalk had stuttered to three defeats out of their preceding four games, losing to Derry City 3-0, St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 and a 2-0 loss away from home at Friday night's opponents, Shamrock Rovers.

Goals have also featured in Dundalk's recent league matches as seven of their last nine games overall have resulted in Over 2.5 goals.

Shamrock Rovers have further strengthened their grip at the top of the Irish Premier Division where they hold a useful seven-point cushion over second-placed Derry City thanks to a five-match unbeaten sequence which consists of four wins and a draw, and the visitors will be looking to add to their points tally here on Friday night.

Recent victories against Dundalk, Sligo Rovers, UCD and Derry City have placed Shamrock Rovers in the driving seat for the Champions League qualifiers for next season and the bigger picture shows that Shamrock Rovers have been the team to beat in this season's Irish top flight campaign, losing just three of their 23 matches played in total.

The visitors have suffered just the one defeat on their travels throughout this season to date while also picking up six wins in the process and goals also look likely from Shamrock Rovers too as they have scored 2 goals or more in seven of their 11 way games so far this term.

Dundalk v Shamrock Rovers Verdict

Despite Dundalk's recent resurgence in the Irish top flight, winning three of their last four games overall, the hosts still look to have their work cut out against an in-form and free-scoring Shamrock Rovers outfit whom they've lost five of the previous six meetings to and further disappointment could be just around the corner at Oriel Park on Friday night.

Therefore, our main bet will be Shamrock Rovers win @ 1.83

Other side bets worth considering:

Over 2.5 goals @ 1.85

Correct score: Shamrock Rovers 2-1 @ 8.50