Improving UCD aim to continue winning run

IT might be a strange position to be in but UCD manager Paul Doolin will send his 19th-placed side into battle against title-chasing Shelbourne tonight warning them against complacency.

The students are in a dogfight with Drogheda United to avoid finishing second from bottom in the Eircom League premier division and having to face a relegation play-off at the end of the season against a first division club. Despite that, they have gone unbeaten in the last four games, including an away win over Shamrock Rovers last Friday, and confidence is high for the visit of second-placed Shelbourne.

Doolin, whose only absentee tonight will be suspended keeper Barry Ryan, said: “We’re certainly not despondent. We were playing well 10 weeks ago and not getting results, but now we’ve reached this stage in the season this is the truth and I’m hoping it continues.