Countdown begins for Shelbourne

Shelbourne v Longford, Tolka Park, 7.45Having left Tolka Park at the end of last season, after Shelbourne earned the most dubious of league titles, Alan Matthews is hoping to thwart his old club's attempt to legitimise its official status as the league's best when he brings Longford Town to Drumcondra tonight.

As assistant to Dermot Keely at Tolka, Matthews played a considerable role in assembling the squad currently in hot pursuit of Bohemians at the top of the table and deep down, he admits, he would be happy to see the Dublin outfit's present squad go on to win a title that looked entirely beyond them just a few weeks ago.

"I think they might too," he says, "but what's important for me is that Longford get something out of this game. After that I'll wish them well, but we still need a few points to be safe."

On the face of it Longford's prospects of hindering Shelbourne's progress do not look great. Without a win in 10 games they will need to show a dramatic improvement against a team who have played their way back into the title race, thanks to a run of eight wins in their last 10 outings.

"It's not going to be easy, we know that. But up to the UCD game, I felt we were playing well," says Mathews. "If we can reproduce that sort of form, then we will give them a hard time and I don't see any reason why we couldn't get something out of it."

Matthews is enthusiastic about Shelbourne's performances on the occasions he has seen them so far this season, although he believes they may have been a little fortunate to get their worst spell of the campaign out of the way so early.

"I think when they came up to us in October we were ahead of them in the table because they'd made a disappointing start. Obviously that left them with ground to make up, but what it has also meant is that the pressure hasn't been weighing as heavily on their shoulders.

"Bohemians were out in front and Shels were free to get on with their business which, to be fair to them, they've done exceptionally well.

"They've looked good any time I've seen them, they're quick in almost every area of the pitch, they work very hard and they're playing very well as a team.

"But it's no surprise to see the two of them, the clubs with virtually full-time squads, out there by themselves. They've shown the way this year, they've taken that extra step again since last season to become more professional and the question now is who is going to be able to follow them and provide a challenge next season."

For this evening's game the visitors will be without the suspended Alan Murphy. His place will go to former Shelbourne winger Brian Byrne, who returns from illness while the Dubliners, who will be guaranteed at least a place in the UEFA Cup if they win, will have Owen Heary back from suspension and could start Stephen Geoghegan, a late substitute against Derry.