Preview: O'Donnell hopeful Dundalk can get back to winning ways in Dublin

Dundalk FC look to finally get back to winning ways later this evening as they make the trip to Dublin to face Shelbourne in Tolka Park (Kick off 7:45PM).

The Lilywhites come into the fixture off the back of a morale boosting draw at home to Derry City, while before that came three losses in a row at the hands of Cork City, Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers. 

Stephen O'Donnell's troops have met the Dubliners twice already this season, with the Oriel Park men taking the spoils in their league meeting (2-1) and Shels victorious in the Leinster Senior Cup. On that night Shels won 4-0, with Dundalk resting many of their regular starters.    

The game is live on RTE and is a great chance for the club to get a first win since their Louth Derby success five weeks ago.

“Shelbourne played well last week against Shamrock Rovers and they won their last home game against Sligo" noted head coach Stephen O'Donnell. 

"We’ve had two tough games against them at Oriel this season and we know this is going to be another competitive, high-intensity affair. It’s on national TV so it’s a great chance for players to showcase their abilities.

"We played well against Derry City last week and took control of the game so we’ll be looking for more of the same."

Looking to team news, Wasiri Williams starts a two-game suspension following his red card against Derry City. Greg Sloggett, Cameron Elliott, Daniel Kelly, Louie Annesley and John Mountney are also all ruled out with injuries.

“We have good players, but it’s tricky when you have to change your team most weeks" exclaimed the Galway native.

"We would have liked to have integrated our new players gradually but we’ve had to throw them in right from the start. I think that will bear fruit and stand to us later in the season but at this stage, everything is still relatively new to them.

“We just have to ride through it. Injuries are part of football, but they seem to have hammered us over the last year.

"That’s the way it is, we just have to go on the front foot and try to march forward. We have seven games in the next 30 days and as long as the players give me full commitment, that’s all I can ask of them.”