Shelbourne vs Waterford Prediction

Form Guide

Shelbourne have strung together four wins and a draw in their last five league games, a run that's helped lift them well up the table. They've been scoring freely too, putting five past Sligo Rovers among the highlights.

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Shelbourne to win

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Draw

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Waterford to win

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Shelbourne: 20 completed matches; Waterford: 20 completed matches.

Shelbourne

20 matches

Win

30% 6 / 20

Draw

35% 7 / 20

Loss

35% 7 / 20

Scored

31

Conceded

30

Difference

+1

Waterford

20 matches

Win

60% 12 / 20

Draw

25% 5 / 20

Loss

15% 3 / 20

Scored

39

Conceded

21

Difference

+18

Waterford's picture is messier. Their wider recent sample looks strong, but a good chunk of those results came in the FAI Cup against lower-division sides. In the league alone they've mixed useful wins with back-to-back defeats, so the form isn't quite as rosy as it first appears.

Shelbourne's league form looks the more reliable of the two heading into this one.

Comparative Team Statistics: Shelbourne vs Waterford

Head-to-Head

Shelbourne have generally had the better of this fixture when it's played at their own ground, winning several recent home meetings against Waterford. The exception is the most recent clash, back in August, which Waterford won.

History doesn't guarantee anything on its own, but Shelbourne's record at home against this particular opponent is worth noting.

League Table

Shelbourne currently sit fourth, with a healthy points tally built on a decent mix of wins and draws. Waterford are down in ninth, some way back on points, with a less convincing overall record of wins and losses this season.

That gap in the table lines up fairly well with how both teams have been playing over the past month or so.

Players to Watch

Waterford's biggest threat is clear: Thomas Lonergan is among the league's leading scorers, with Pádraig Amond chipping in regularly too. Shelbourne don't have a single standout on that level, but they share the goals around between Harry Wood, Jack Martin and Dayle Kelly.

Shelbourne:

Best scorers:

H. Wood - 8

J. Martin - 6

D. Kelly - 6

Penalty cards:

R. Freitas x 1 x 5

S. Boyd x 1 x 4

D. Kelly x 10

Waterford:

Best scorers:

T. Lonergan - 14

P. Amond - 9

Penalty cards:

J. Mahon x 9

S. Glenfield x 7

Discipline hasn't been a major issue for either side this season, though Kelly has picked up more yellow cards than anyone else involved in this fixture.

Lonergan's scoring record means Waterford always carry a threat, even on an off day.

How It Might Play Out

Both sides have shown they can score goals in bunches recently, and neither defence has looked watertight. Shelbourne's recent matches have produced goals at both ends, and Waterford's results have followed a similar pattern.

Given that scoring trend and Shelbourne's good run, a home win with goals at both ends looks the shape many would expect, though Waterford's firepower means nothing here is nailed on.