• Competition: League of Ireland Premier Division
• Date: Friday, 6th, September 2024
• Kickoff: 19:45 UK / 20.45 CEST
• Venue: Dalymount Park (Dublin)

Shelbourne will visit Dalymount Park to face the struggling Bohemian on Friday evening, as they aim to maintain their lead at the top of the League of Ireland Premier Division standings.

Despite being tipped for European spots, the 11-time Irish champions have drastically underperformed this season, and their struggles have left them fighting at the wrong end of the table. After completing 27 league matches, the Gypsies have managed to gather a rather meager tally of 32 points, leaving them in the uncomfortable position of eighth in a 10-team division. Holding a seven-point lead and having two matches in hand over Drogheda in the relegation zone, Bohemians are approaching the final stretch of the season with relative calm.

Just three years after returning to the top football division, Shelbourne have showcased their high ambitions and it seems they are closer than ever to reclaiming the Irish throne after an 18-year absence. European commitments, which ended ignominiously with an exit from the Conference League qualifiers, have seen Shelbourne’s league form take a slight dip recently with only one win in their last five matches, causing their lead at the top to shrink to just a three-point cushion over second-placed Derry City with a game in hand.

Bohemians vs Shelbourne Betting Tips: BTTS

Returning to winning ways after four months without a league victory could not have come at a better time for Bohemians, who came from behind to defeat the Irish giants Shamrock Rovers 2-1 last week, significantly boosting their confidence ahead of another tough test. Recently, the Gypsies have been involved in high-scoring affairs, with each of their last six matches across all competitions featuring goals at both ends, including one of those games against Friday’s opponents, which ended in a 1-1 draw in Dublin. 

Prior to that stalemate, Alan Reynolds' men defeated Shelbourne with a tight 2-1 scoreline, so they will rightly be considering their chances of another upset against the league leaders who have fallen off their rhythm recently, claiming only one win in their last seven competitive fixtures. Aside from the monotonous goalless draws, Shels have only kept their opponents off the scoresheet twice in their last eight outings of any format, indicating that their defensive line is not performing at the level it did at the start of the season. Motivated after beating the Irish giants last week, Bohs will look to take down another major team in front of their home fans, and their impressive scoring form suggests that the third this season's meeting between these rivals might be filled with goals on both ends.