Dundalk vs Shamrock Rovers Prediction

How Both Sides Have Been Playing

Dundalk's last 20 matches across competitions show seven wins, four draws and nine defeats, with goals flowing at both ends (36 for, 35 against). It's a pattern of a team capable of scoring but leaking goals just as easily.

Dundalk: 20 completed matches; Shamrock Rovers: 20 completed matches.

Dundalk

20 matches

Win

35% 7 / 20

Draw

20% 4 / 20

Loss

45% 9 / 20

Scored

36

Conceded

34

Difference

+2

Shamrock Rovers

20 matches

Win

45% 9 / 20

Draw

25% 5 / 20

Loss

30% 6 / 20

Scored

34

Conceded

30

Difference

+4

Shamrock Rovers' record over the same length of sample reads nine wins, five draws and six losses, though that includes a heavy run of European ties alongside league games. Their goal difference is tighter (34 for, 30 against), but they've had a lot more competitive football to manage.

Rovers have had a busier, more varied schedule, which is worth bearing in mind alongside their form figures.

Comparative Team Statistics: Dundalk vs Shamrock Rovers

A Fixture With Few Easy Patterns

These two have met close to twenty times in recent seasons, and it's been far from one-sided lately. Rovers won the most recent league meeting 3-2 at home in August, but Dundalk had won the previous one 1-0 back in May.

Further back, Rovers have the better overall record in this rivalry, including some comfortable wins, but plenty of draws and Dundalk home wins have popped up too. It's not a fixture where the head-to-head clearly points one way right now.

Where They Sit in the Table

Shamrock Rovers are second with 59 points from 31 games, built on 17 wins and a healthy +18 goal difference. Dundalk are fifth with 41 points from 32 games, and their goal difference sits at -4.

That gap in the table lines up with Rovers being the more settled side over the season as a whole, even allowing for their crowded fixture list.

Players to Watch and Discipline

Dundalk's D. Horgan is the standout scorer involved here with 10 goals in 31 appearances, well clear of anyone else listed. Rovers' threat looks more shared, with J. McGovern, G. Burke and M. Noonan all featuring among the top scorers without any one player dominating.

Dundalk:

Best scorers:

D. Horgan - 10

G. Arubi - 7

Penalty cards:

A. Dervin x 1 x 7

R. Cornwall x 1 x 5

S. Tracey x 1 x 4

Shamrock Rovers:

Best scorers:

J. McGovern - 7

G. Burke - 7

M. Noonan - 6

Penalty cards:

Pico x 2 x 4

M. Healy x 8

On discipline, Dundalk's K. Buckley and B. Burns have picked up nine or more yellow cards apiece this season, which is worth keeping in mind for game management, though it doesn't tell us anything about who's actually available for this specific match.