Perhaps predictably, Pat Fenlon took the "two points dropped" questions less well than Liam Buckley on Monday night but the Shamrock Rovers manager made no bones about the fact that his side needs to get back to winning ways against Longford Town on Friday.

The Dubliner suggested that his side has not got the credit it deserves for going more than a third of the season without a loss but then it’s hard for the neutrals to get carried away about the achievement when Dundalk have done it too only with four more wins, eight more points and 15 more goals to show for their efforts.

Rovers, to be fair, have only dropped points at home to the other three teams in the current top four and Friday’s opponents were beaten 2-0 away over the second weekend of the season.

The hosts should have David Webster back available for tonight's encounter but Stephen McPhail looks to be something of a doubt after limping off the Richmond Park pitch on Monday.

Peter Hutton admits that pretty much nobody will give his Derry City side a shout at Oriel Park given the two clubs' respective recent form and the fact that he will again be without Ger Doherty, Stephen Dooley and Pat McEleney for the visit to the champions.

Dundalk manager Stephen Kenny is without Brian Gartland due to a hamstring problem leaving the door open for Paddy Barrett to come in for his full debut while Stephen O'Donnell and John Mounteney will both also be pushing for starts.

Top-flight game

In the night’s other top-flight game Galway United will be looking to build on last weekend’s impressive win at the Brandywell.

Tommy Dunne's squad is still severely depleted with Jason Molloy, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry, Kilian Cantwell and Sam Ojo all only due to get back training over the next week or two.

Bohemians manager Keith Long has a full squad to choose from as they head west.