League Preview: Athlone Town -v- UCD

ATHLONE TOWN

Athlone Town will seek to end a two-game losing streak when UCD are the visitors to Lissywollen on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

Last Friday's narrow 1-0 loss was an improved showing from Town following a 3-0 reverse to Shelbourne in their previous home game.

Colin Fortune will have to plan without a number of key players, however, as Conor Barry, Colm Coss, Craig Shortt, Jamie Quinn and Ian Fletcher are all injured.

Defender Cormac Raftery will also sit the game out after he was sent off in the defeat to Drogheda, while striker Ronan Hanaphy has left the club by mutual consent.

UCD

UCD will look to bounce back from last Friday's home defeat to Cobh Ramblers and secure three of the nine points needed to ensure a promotion play-off with Drogheda United.

Eoin McGreevy's second-half goal condemned the Students to a potentially costly defeat against their only rivals for the final play-off slot, however with a three-point buffer, superior goal difference and just four games remaining, Collie O'Neill's side still have the advantage.

“It was a disappointing performance last week,” O'Neill told the club's website.

“The lads all want to be playing Premier Division football next season, but based on that kind of performance that isn’t going to happen.

“We will need to improve a lot over the coming weeks if we are to have any chance, but we need to take it one game at a time and we will be looking to bounce back with a big performance on Friday night.”

O'Neill has a full squad to choose from after long-term injury victim Brian Shortall completed a full week of training and will come into contention for the first time since April.

Referee: Marc Lynch

MATCH STATS

Athlone Town and UCD have met three times already this season, with UCD winning each of the last two encounters after the first meeting in Belfield ended in a 1-1 draw.

UCD have struggled somewhat in Lissywollen since returning to the First Division, having drawn both of their games in Athlone last season.

BETTING

Athlone Town 5/1; Draw 10/3; UCD 2/5.

PREDICTION

Athlone Town 1 - 3 UCD

Athlone Town

Injured: Conor Barry (broken leg), Colm Coss (broken foot), Craig Shortt (ligaments), Jamie Quinn (shoulder), Ian Fletcher (knee).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Cormac Raftery.

UCD

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.