Eircom League First Division

Oriel Park (Thursday 7.45pm)

SEASON SO FAR

Well after the three week break its back to the action with a low-key game kicking off proceedings. Dundalk played a warm-up match last Saturday away to UCD to prepare for this encounter with a last minute goal depriving them a 1-0 win, with the game finishing 1-1. Dundalk might have a slight fitness edge as a result of that. For both these sides its been two very different seasons to what each of them would have been expecting. Dundalk started disastrously with four straight defeats but have managed to turn that around somewhat with five wins in their last eight outings, but still sit eight points behind leaders Limerick who have two games in hand on the Lilywhites. At the beginning of the year, Dundalk would have expected to be at least within one or two points of top spot going into the Summer Break but they seem to just perform in some of their games. With Dundalk you never know! Either you get a comprehensive win or a comprehensive defeat, no in between…that fact has been shown with the Oriel Park outfit yet to register a draw so far after twelve matches.

Athlone have played very well this season with a solid defence being the main reason for this. Last season they finished bottom with a total of 28 points but this year they have already picked up 14 points and sit just 5 off Shamrock Rovers in second. Their home form has been average to date, with a 2-0 home win against tonight’s opponents in April one of their only home triumphs this season. Their away form however has been excellent with the midlanders yet to be beaten on the road with draws in Ballybofey, Cobh and Galway particularly impressive. Athlone’s sole away win came in Monaghan and if you have been following this league in recent times you’ll know it doesn’t take too much to win down there! But a second win on their travels is not out of the question as Athlone have given Dundalk plenty to think about over recent seasons. Indeed, Dundalk’s worst performance in the last seven or eight years came against Athlone last season when they were defeated 1-0 but never put two passes together the whole game.

Dundalk, after three successive league defeats, got a win on the board with a facile 3-0 win over Kildare County at Station Road before the break and would see this as an ideal opportunity to add another win and move within one point of second spot. Athlone wont be fearing the trip to Oriel and they will be aiming to leapfrog Dundalk and move into fourth place. Its sure to make for a fascinating meeting but if John Gill has his troops focused this should be an eighth win for Dundalk in 16 competitive matches in all competitions under the Donabate man…

RECENT FORM & ANALYSIS

Dundalk FC’s Home Form This Season:
0-1 Cobh Ramblers
0-1 Kildare County
1-0 Galway United
4-0 Monaghan United
1-3 Finn Harps
0-2 Shamrock Rovers

Athlone Towns Away Form This Season:
0-0 Cobh Ramblers
1-1 Finn Harps
0-0 Galway United
1-0 Monaghan United

Athlone’s last scheduled away fixture fell victim to the weather and so they haven’t played on the road since April 28th. They have been very solid away from St. Mel’s Park this year with three draws and one win from four games. In total, Athlone have conceded just six goals in their eleven games compared to the sixteen goals Dundalk have leaked at the back in their twelve matches…on the other hand, while Dundalk have rattled the oppositions net on sixteen occasions, Athlone have only managed the same feat five times so its very hard to know if this will be high or low scoring! Dundalk went to Athlone in April and but for some ridiculous defending would have came away with at least a point.

The first goal was as a result of Dundalk’s defence failing to make an easy clearance from a corner and let it drop to the feet of a Town player who easily tapped in. The second was even more generous as Dundalk’s centre halves got in a mix up on the half way line and eventually passed it to an Athlone striker who duly strode in and blasted the ball home in a one-on-one situation. There is clearly very little between these two teams and it wouldn’t be a surprise if Dundalk were to find their first draw of the year. They should however, get another win on the scoreboard and with Aidan Lynch now in Dundalk’s defence (2 games played, 2 clean sheets) they should be able to dispose of Athlone here on their home turf (or plastic as the case is for Dundalk!)…

VERDICT

Another win for Dundalk who will hope to net a third win on the spin in all competitions. After their last win in Kildare it would be a shame to drop points here and Gill is sure to have them fired up to get their promotion challenge right back on track. It wont be easy though as Athlone are a stubborn team who will cause some problems for Dundalk but take out the two goals the Louth side gave Athlone in their meeting this season and the St. Mel’s Park club have only scored a paltry three times in ten games so Dundalk shouldn’t be too hard pressed for another clean sheet here.

Dundalk to do the business courtesy of a Philip Hughes/Peter Hynes show!

NOTE: This game will be broadcast live from 7.30pm Thursday on www.dundalkfm.com (click the Live fro Oriel link). Score updates will be provided on www.rte.ie/aertel/pg222.htm

The Pick :

Dundalk FC 2-0 Athlone Town

PERCENTAGE ESTIMATE :

50% Dundalk FC - 30% Draw - 20% Athlone Town

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Dundalk to win @ 1/1 (StanJames)