Drogheda United will be looking to move away from the League of Ireland Premier danger zone when they travel to basement club University College Dublin on Friday.
While the hosts have lost their last two league games by an aggregate score of 11-0, the visitors are seeking to avoid a fourth consecutive match without a win.
Match preview
After narrowly avoiding relegation last season, UCD's hopes of escaping the drop this time around are slim to say the least as they currently sit 14 points adrift of safety at the foot of the Premier Division.
Just nine points have been accumulated from 23 matches by Andrew Myler's side, who suffered their 18th league defeat of the season at home to Shelbourne last week.
Seven days on from a 7-0 drubbing by St Patrick's Athletic, UCD were heavily beaten 4-0 against the Shels, conceding at least four goals for the seventh time this season.
UCD have struggled in recent home meetings with Drogheda having only won one of their last nine encounters at UCD Bowl – a 2-1 home victory in October 2022. However, both of their two league wins this season against Cork City and Sligo Rovers have taken place on home soil, which bodes well ahead of Friday's clash.
Drogheda, meanwhile, followed up a 1-1 draw away against Cork City with a goalless stalemate at home against league leaders and reigning champions Shamrock Rovers last week.
In front of 2,284 supporters – their biggest home attendance for four years – the Drogs held on for a hard-earned point courtesy of some dogged defending to prevent any of the visitors' 16 shots from making the net ripple.
After finishing eighth in the Premier Division last season, Kevin Doherty's side find themselves in the same position after 23 games this term, and a victory on Friday would see them move five points clear of ninth-placed Cork in the relegation playoff spot.
Drogheda have only won two of their last eight away matches, but they will be confident of success against UCD having already beaten them this season by a 3-1 scoreline on their own turf in May.
Team News
UCD duo Sean Brennan and Adam Verdon both returned to the starting lineup last week and the midfield pair could retain their places, with the former set to provide support for central striker Jake Doyle, who has scored two of his three league goals this season in his last five appearances.
New recruit Michael Raggett was thrown straight into the first XI to make his debut against Shelbourne and he may keep his place on the right wing, with Daniel Norris set to operate on the opposite flank.
As for Drogheda, goalkeeper Andrew Wogan and centre-back Conor Keeley were both named in the Premier Division Team of the Week after their resilient displays last week, and both players are set to feature again in the starting lineup on Friday.
Top scorer Freddie Draper, who has found the net eight times this season, has returned to parent club Lincoln City, so Adam Foley, who has four goals to his name this term, is the most likely candidate to lead the line.
University College Dublin possible starting lineup:
Moore; Babb, Keaney, O'Brien, Osam; Verdon, Barr; Raggett, Brennan, Norris; Doyle
Drogheda United possible starting lineup:
Wogan; Heeney, Adegboyega, Keeley, Weir; Brennan, Deegan; Markey, Noone, Rooney; Foley
We say: University College Dublin 0-3 Drogheda United
Although UCD are desperate to pick up points in a bid to avoid the drop, Drogheda will be regarded as firm favourites to claim maximum points on Friday and they should have few problems running away with a comfortable victory.
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