UCD v Shamrock Rovers
Football: League Of Ireland Premier Division
Friday 14th May Kick Off 7.45PM

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UCD ( Home Record W3 D2 L1 )
Shamrock Rovers ( Away Record W3 D2 L1 )

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UCD have had a good season so far in the League Of Ireland. They are just 5 points behind the leaders St Patricks Athletic with a game in hand, although they are in 6th position and it shows how close and competitive the league has been this season with the top sides all taking points off each other.

UCD are also on the back of their best win so far this season in an impressive 6-0 victory at bottom side Bray Wanderers last Friday. Bray have struggled badly and are bottom with just four points although they beat second place Dundalk 3-2 away from home 3 weeks ago. What was more amazing about this game was that Bray could have been 2 or 3 goals up before UCD took the lead.

This will me a much tougher test for Martin Russell's side. On Monday night they met in the League Cup at the same venue and Rovers won 1-0 with both sides fielding weakened sides. UCD have been solid at home, losing just once from six games and have had a few excellent results including beat ing St Patricks Athletic 1-0 two weeks ago.

They have also only conceded two goals in those six home games both in the 2-1 defeat against Bohemians in their first game and are now 5 games without conceding a home goal. A terrific record for the newly promoted side but Rovers are definitely a side capable of ending that run.

Third place Shamrock Rovers got back to winning last weekend with a 2-0 win over Galway and then a 1-0 win over UCD in the league cup on Monday. Before that they had lost 2-1 to Dundalk ending their 8 match unbeaten run in the league. Just one defeat in ten it is for Michael O Neill's side and one of the favourites for this seasons title.

Rovers were last years runners up and many expect them to go one better this season. A slow start coincided with a big list of suspensions and injury's, but that list of absentees is much smaller now and Rovers are looking much stronger in recent weeks.

They have saved their best performances for bigger games including beating arch rivals and Champions Bohemians 1-0 and going to leaders St Patricks Athletic and winning impressively 2-1. Last years league top scorer and player of the year Gary Twigg is now fully fit again and has scored 4 goals in 6 games since coming back from injury and his striker parter Dessie Baker is also back to full fitness, not good news for defences around the league. They have also been good on the road this season just as they were last year.

Rovers have an excellent squad, the best in the league along with Bohemians and its often a matter of whether they turn up on the night. despite UCD's good form, If Rovers go out and play as they can, they should win this one.

UCD LAST 5 MATCHES
UCD 0-1 Shamrock Rovers ( League Cup )
Bray Wanderers 0-6 Shamrock Rovers
UCD 1-0 St Patricks Athletic
Bohemians 0-0 UCD
UCD 2-0 Drogheda

SHAMROCK ROVERS LAST 5 MATCHES
UCD 0-1 Shamrock Rovers ( League Cup )
Shamrock Rovers 2-0 Galway United
Dundalk 2-1 Shamrock Rovers
St Patricks Athletic 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Shamrock Rovers 1-1 Sligo Rovers

The Betting VERDICT

SHAMROCK ROVERS TO WIN and are available at an excellent 7/5 in Ladbrokes.

Reason for the good price is down to UCD's good form but I do fancy a Rovers win.

The Pick :

UCD 1-2 Shamrock Rovers

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Take SHAMROCK ROVERS TO WIN