Joey O’Brien takes his rejuvenated Shelbourne troops up north to Windsor Park with a slender one goal lead as they look to finish the job on a night that could mean so much more than the obvious North vs South rivalry.
A full week’s worth of training has been something of a rarity for Shels this season and O’Brien has admitted that it’s been very helpful having a a full week to prepare in between a tie of this magnitude.
”It’s been great. By playing the league games earlier in the season- obviously it’s congested then- but when you get to this stage of the season it really works in your favour.”
Team News
The hosts will be glad to be able to welcome back former Dundalk man Chris Shields to the heart of their midfield after missing out last week due to suspension.
Experienced Sean Gannon will return to the squad for Shels having also missed out last week due to suspension. Everyone should be available for Shelbourne.
Whilst Shels players and coaching staff were reluctant to admit it after their 1-0 first leg triumph last week, they may have felt like they could’ve come into this game with a healthier lead after they spurned a number of opportunities against a fairly abject Linfield side for whom it was very clear to see they were still in preseason.
Shels attacking shape
Shels flew out of the blocks last week in a sun bathed Tolka Park. Harry Wood and Ali Coote were operating as the two 10s and were picking the ball up in really dangerous pockets. Shels were able to penetrate the Linfield defence consistently in the first 55 minutes before O’Brien changed shape and brought Sean Boyd on alongside the eventual goal scorer Mipo Odubeko. Continuity has been a big thing for O’Brien since he’s taken over so I think he probably will stick with the same attacking shape from the start before perhaps opting for a more direct route again in the second half.
Type of game to expect at Windsor
If last Wednesday night’s 1st leg has been someone’s first time ever watching Shels or Linfield play they would be forgiven for thinking that the bigger pitch at Windsor than the smaller than usual pitch at Tolka last week due to UEFA regulations due to how the game went and how dominant Shels were on the ball. However, Linfield have a very good record at Windsor Park and are likely to get a good following on the night so O’Brien is under no illusions about the task at hand for his side.
”It’s a pitch they know very well and they’ve had some great European nights there so it’s up to us to attack the game just like we done last week.”
Linfield manager David Healey has spoken about it being important for his team to stay in it early on.
“We’ll put a bit more pressure on, of course, but you don’t want to waste 95 minutes of hard work last week to put yourself out of the tie within the first 15 or 20 minutes this week.”
Prediction
Linfield 1-1 Shelbourne (1-2)
I think Shels will come out of the traps similar to how they did last week and look to get on the ball and dictate the tempo against a Linfield side who are still in preseason. I think they’ll get an early enough goal to put them in a commanding position but will probably naturally retreat from there. Linfield will have nothing to lose and pile on the pressure and eventually get a goal back but I expect Shels to then hold out for the win and be getting ready to book their flights to Azerbaijan to face Qarabag.
Player to watch: Paddy Barrett
Last week Shels weren’t really troubled by Linfield’s few attacks but in the second leg you can foresee the hosts coming out slightly more as the game wears on and their most fruitful way of creating chances is from crosses into the box. The Waterford man has been one of Shels most consistent performers this season and last and is well capable of putting his head on the ball if needed. His ability along with Cameron Ledwidge to step out from the back with the ball can also not be underestimated.
Photo Credit: Susan Maxwell from she_shoots_sport on Instagram.