League of Ireland Premier Division fixtures, previews, team news and verdicts

PREMIER DIVISION

DROGHEDA UTD v SHELBOURNE

(Weavers Park, 7.45)

TEAM NEWS: Drogheda hope to include new signing Douglas James-Taylor but Frantz Pierrot (suspension) is out, while Jethren Barr, Aaron McNally, Gary Deegan, Darragh Markey and Zishim Bawa are all doubtful; ex-Red Shane Farrell is ineligible. Shels add Sam Bone, Harry Wood and Ali Coote to their squad.

TALKING POINT: Reinforcements are on the way for a Drogheda squad light on numbers but the loss of people like Evan Weir is hard to cope with.

REFEREE: Paul McLaughlin

ODDS: Drogheda 7/2, Shels 4/5, draw 12/5

VERDICT: Away win

GALWAY UNITED v BOHEMIANS

(Eamon Deacy Park, 7.45)

TEAM NEWS: Galway lose Conor McCormack and Aodh Dervin to suspension. Bohs are still missing Brian McManus, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley but debuts await new faces.

TALKING POINT: Previously tight at the back, Galway have conceded two goals in three of the last four games, their squad is stretched for this one and Bohs can kick-start their season with a rare away win.

REFEREE: Eoghan O’Shea

ODDS: Galway 20/21, Bohs 11/4, draw 23/10

VERDICT: Away win

SLIGO ROVERS v DERRY CITY

(Showgrounds, 7.45)

TEAM NEWS: Sligo are getting stronger as Nando Piknaker and Simon Power are fully fit and new signing Stephen Mallon comes in. Derry cope without Patrick McEleney but add Jacob Davenport to the squad, Colm Whelan is also available.

TALKING POINT: Derry are aiming for a fifth straight win but they come up against a Sligo outfit with morale high. City may lose that winning streak.

REFEREE: Damien MacGraith

ODDS: Sligo 9/2, Derry 8/13, draw 13/5

VERDICT: Draw

WATERFORD v ST PATRICK’S ATH

(RSC, 7.45)

TEAM NEWS: Waterford are again without Maleace Asamoah and Barry Baggley. Pat’s add Joseph Anang and Al-Amin Kazeem to the squad. Ryan McLaughlin the only absentee.

TALKING POINT: The Blues have come out on top in the sides’ meetings this season and the Saints’ away record is dismal.

REFEREE: Rob Hennessy

ODDS: Waterford 7/4, Pat’s 8/5, draw 21/10

VERDICT: Home win

SHAMROCK ROVERS v DUNDALK

(Tallaght Stadium, 8.0)

TEAM NEWS: Rovers add Darragh Burns and Dan Cleary to the squad, Seán Kavanagh, Neil Farrguia are close to a return but Rory Gaffney and Lee Grace are still out. Dundalk have possible debutants in Norman Garbet, Scott McGill, Jad Hakiki, Hayden Cann and Bobby Faulkner.

TALKING POINT: Rovers have laboured in the fixture this season, two draws to date, but expect a reaction from last week’s poor show in Sligo with a home win

REFEREE: Marc Lynch

ODDS: Rovers 4/11, Dundalk 13/2, draw 7/2

VERDICT: Home win