Shelbourne v Derry City

Shelbourne vs Derry City Preview

Shelbourne will be eager to bounce back with a win here on Friday night against visitors, Derry City, following a 1-0 defeat away from home at St Patrick's Athletic last time out in the Irish Premier Division but the hosts face another tough assignment despite holding home advantage at Tolka Park.

Prior to that loss at St Patrick's, Shelbourne had pieced together a four-match unbeaten run in the Irish top flight which included a 3-2 home win against Drogheda United along with points picked up in draws with Bohemians, Derry City (away) and Sligo Rovers, which has helped Shelbourne maintain their comfortable mid-table position of 6th place in the table.

Shelbourne have also produced steady results on home soil so far this season too at their Tolka Park, picking up five wins, four draws and suffering just two defeats to date this term in their own backyard, but it should be noted that one of these losses at home was to Friday night's opponents, Derry City, in a 1-0 defeat.

Derry City currently occupy second place in the Irish Premier Division standings and seven points behind the league leaders, Shamrock Rovers, ahead of Friday night's fixtures in the domestic top flight with the margin being widened after losing 1-0 away at Shamrock Rovers last time out.

Derry have experienced something of a downturn in form as well in recent weeks in the Premier Division as the visitors have managed to register just one win in their last six matches overall, that being a 2-0 home win against Cork City but defeats to Sligo Rovers, St Patrick's Athletic and Shamrock Rovers suggest this upcoming trip to Tolka Park will be anything but straightforward.

Derry City had made a fantastic start away from home earlier in the season as the visitors put together an impressive eight-match unbeaten run on the road, picking up six wins in the process but the wheels appear to have come off in recent times on their travels.

The visitors have lost each of their last three games on the road, so the prospects of a straight win here for Derry City looks quite unlikely but the goals market does look inviting as six of Derry City's 11 away games to date have resulted in Under 2.5 goals.

Shelbourne v Derry City Verdict

Goals have also been in short supply when Shelbourne have been involved at Tolka Park as no fewer than eight of their 11 home games so far in this campaign have resulted in Under 2.5 goals and another low-scoring affair between Shelbourne and Derry City looks set to unfold here on Friday night as four of the last five meetings have produced two goals or less.

Therefore, our main bet will be Under 2.5 goals @ 1.50

Other side bets worth considering:

Derry City win & Under 2.5 goals @ 3.75

Correct score: Derry City 1-0 @ 6.00