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Shelbourne welcome St Joseph's to Tolka Park for the first leg of their UEFA Conference League first round qualification tie on Thursday (July 11th). The hosts are coming off a 1-1 draw away to Drogheda in the Irish Premier Division last week.
They took the lead through Tyreke Wilson's 20th-minute strke. However, Shelbourne were reduced to nine men late in the second half when Wilson and Patrick Barrett were sent off. Drogheda took advantage and drew the game level from the spot through Douglas James-Taylor in the 84th minute.
St Joseph's meanwhile, have not been in action since sharing the spoils in a 1-1 draw at home to Lincoln Red Imps in their final game of the Gibraltar National League in May. They were ahead by the 28th minute through Pablo Moreno's strike. Red Imps were reduced to 10 men in the 83rd minute but still drew the game level in the 90th minute.
Abraham Paz' side will now turn their attention to the continental competition and booked their spot in the Conference League courtesy of their runners-up finish in the Gibraltar Football League last term. Shelbourne qualified through their fourth-placed finish in the Irish league.
The winner of this tie will face Zurich in the second round of the Conference League qualifiers.
Shelbourne vs St Joseph's Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- This will be the first meeting between the two sides.
- Shelbourne have lost just one of their last 13 games (seven wins).
- St Joseph's ended last season with a five-game unbeaten run (four wins).
- Shelbourne's last six games have witnessed four red cards and 47 yellow cards issued.
- St Joseph's last three games have witnessed four red cards issued.
- St Joseph's have lost six of their last nine qualification games in UEFA competitions (one win).
Shelbourne vs St Joseph's Prediction
Shelbourne are returning to the continent for the first time in almost two decades. Furthermore, the Reds are having a spectacular season domestically and currently lead the way at the summit of the league, even though their games tend to be tempestous affairs.
St Joseph's are underdogs and their poor record in qualification games highlights the difference in quality between Gibraltarian clubs and the rest of the continent.
Shelbourne will be expected to cruise into the next round and we are backing the hosts to claim a routine victory and clean sheet.
Prediction: Shelbourne 2-0 St Joseph's
Shelbourne vs St Joseph's Betting Tips
Tip 1 - Shelbourne to win
Tip 2 - Both teams to score: No
Tip 3 - Halftime/Fulltime result: Shelbourne/Shelbourne
Tip 4 - Over 45 booking points
