Football Bet of the Day: Rovers to reclaim title from defending champions Shelbourne

Friday's Football Bet of the Day comes from Tallaght Stadium in the Irish capital of Dublin, where Shamrock Rovers, who can lift the league title by avoiding defeat, host Shelbourne FC.

The visitors still have plenty to play for themselves, though, as a top-three finish, which would clinch European football, is still in sight.

Rovers won the League of Ireland Men's Premier Division four years on the bounce between 2020 and 2023, but were denied a fifth title in a row by Shelbourne, who pipped Stephen Bradley's side to the trophy by two points.

Shelbourne have fallen down this year, though, not helped by the sudden mid-season departure of head coach Damien Duff. Heading into Friday's fixture, the Reds are sixth in the 10-team table, 17 points behind the current leaders, Rovers.

Still, Shelbourne, who, like Rovers, are in the league phase of this season's Uefa Conference League, can qualify for continental football next year, but they ought to win on Friday to keep up the pressure on those above them.

Shamrock Rovers vs Shelbourne FC Odds

Easier said than done, though, as they take a trip to Tallaght Stadium, where they have been playing their European home games.

Rovers have only dropped nine points at home all season (W11, D3, L1), scoring 31 goals and conceding just nine. Bohemians were beaten 2-1 at Tallaght Stadium last time out (September 26), which made it five home league wins in a row for Bradley's men, whose task on Friday is simple - avoid defeat.

It would be unlike Rovers to not go for the win, though, and Bradley will be wary of settling for a stalemate and receiving a late suckerpunch from Shelbourne, who, as defending champions and a club with European ambitions, won't be taking this match lightly.

Football Odds

The Reds have been solid travellers this season, too, claiming 20 points from 15 games - only Rovers (27) and Derry City (24) have picked up more points away from home.

Shelbourne haven't won either of their last two on the road, though, drawing 1-1 at Derry City on September 19 before losing 2-1 at Drogheda United three days later.

Today's Football Fixtures

Rovers failed to beat the Reds in their first two meetings of the calendar year, drawing 1-1 at Tolka Park in February before exchanging four goals in a 2-2 stalemate at Tallaght Stadium in April.

However, back at Shelbourne in June, Rovers triumphed 2-1, extending their unbeaten streak against Shelbourne to four games.

The Reds, now managed by Joey O'Brien, are unlikely to make things easy for Rovers on Friday, but Bradley's side are so close to the title that they can almost touch it, and all they need is one more big push to achieve their goal of bringing the trophy back to Tallaght Stadium.

I'm backing Rovers to claim the title in style by beating the defending champions this week.

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