Drogheda United travel to Tallaght Stadium on Friday night for a Premier Division fixture against Shamrock Rovers, a match that follows a morale-boosting friendly victory in Turkey. The game kicks off at 20:00 local time on 9 October.
Recent form
Kevin Doherty's side go into the game having won three of their last five outings across all competitions. Their most recent result was a 1-0 away win over Turkish Süper Lig side Trabzonspor in a friendly on 1 October, with Edwin Agbaje scoring the late winner. That result came after a mixed run in the league, which included a 2-1 loss to Bohemians and a 2-1 win away to Shelbourne. Drogheda United currently sit ninth in the Premier Division with 34 points from 32 games, a position they will be keen to strengthen. Their recent league form reads LWWLL, and they will be looking to build on the confidence gained from their win in Trabzon.
Shamrock Rovers challenge
The hosts, Shamrock Rovers, present a formidable challenge as they sit third in the table. Their recent form has been inconsistent, with a win, a loss and a draw in their last three league matches. Their last outing was a 3-2 home victory over Waterford on 18 September. Rovers' last three matches have seen them beat Waterford 3-2, lose 2-1 to Sligo Rovers, and draw 0-0 with Derry City.
Head-to-head
The recent head-to-head record suggests a tight contest. The last three Premier Division meetings between the sides have produced two goalless draws, including the most recent one at Head in the Game Park on 31 July. Rovers did, however, secure a comprehensive 4-1 win at Tallaght Stadium in May. Drogheda United's top scorer this season, Warren Davis with six goals, will be key to breaking down a Rovers defence that kept a clean sheet in that last stalemate. The full squad list is available on our squad page.
Both teams fielded strong starting elevens in their most recent matches, though any specific team news for Friday's game remains unconfirmed. Drogheda United's next fixture after this is another away trip, the details of which can be found on our fixtures page. Shamrock Rovers will be looking to close the gap on the top two, while Drogheda aim to climb away from the lower reaches of the table.
