Shelbourne have a massive challenge in front of them as they prepare to welcome Dutch giants Ajax to Tolka Park in this Conference League third qualifying round tie.
The Reds were downed 3-1 in Amsterdam last week and, in truth, it was a scoreline that flattered John Russell's side.
Ajax could and should have scored more, with Mika Godts having a second-half penalty stopped, and Daniel Kelly's late goal put some gloss on the result for the League of Ireland side.
Amid a worrying decline in results, a visit from the Dutch giants is unlikely to bring any solace for Shels in the second leg of this Conference League tie.
Shelbourne v Ajax Tips Summary
Best Bet - Ajax to win & Over 3.5 goals @ 6/5
Alternative Bet - Steven Berghuis to score anytime @ 7/4
Bet Builder - Total goals 4-6, Over 8 corners & Mika Godts to score anytime @ 15/4
Shelbourne v Ajax Prediction
Best Bet: Ajax to win & Over 3.5 goals @ 6/5
Things haven't exactly gone to plan for Russell since he left Sligo Rovers last month to replace Joey O'Brien in the Shelbourne dugout.
His first game saw the Reds dramatically exit the FAI Cup to Kerry FC on penalties and further league losses against Waterford and St Patrick's Athletic have followed, with the two-legged European win over Nomme Kalju the sole positive – and even then his side were beaten in Estonia.
Ajax gave Shelbourne the runaround in Amsterdam. Miguel Angel Sanchez's side were 3-1 winners, but it could easily have been much more damaging, the Eredivisie side having recorded an xG figure of 6.08 as they utterly dominated proceedings.
Shels were beaten here by St Pats on Sunday, with striker Rodrigo Freitas sent off following earlier dismissals for Russell and strength and conditioning coach Mauro Martins off the bench.
Kelly's goal at the Johan Cruyff Arena means Ajax must treat this visit to Dublin with a degree of care. That should ensure another polished performance and lots of goals in a win for the visiting side.
Alternative Bet: Steven Berghuis to score anytime @ 7/4
Steven Berghuis didn't net in the first leg, but the 46-cap Netherlands international was a menace throughout.
He was the standout player in that contest, with seven shots at goal and 10 touches in the Shelbourne penalty box.
He recorded two assists and had a couple of excellent chances to score himself in the 64 minutes he played and he is capable of netting his second goal of this Conference League campaign.
Shelbourne v Ajax Bet Builder Tip
Total goals 4-6
Over 8 corners
Mika Godts to score anytime
Pays 15/4
This will be Ajax's fourth game in Conference League qualification and each of the first three have featured four or five goals.
The Dutch side should be free-scoring in Dublin, but they haven't managed a clean sheet in three attempts so far in this competition and so 4-6 goals seems a likely landing spot once more.
In the first leg Ajax took 14 corners, with Shels unable to muster any.
The Dutch visitors will control this game and while a repeat figure in the teens is asking plenty, they had 18 across the two legs against Vojvodina in the previous round and should remain on that sort of trajectory.
Godts took six minutes to breach Shelbourne in the first leg, converting from the penalty spot.
The 21-year-old Belgian was denied from the spot in the second half by Ed Beach, but he had a game-high 13 touches in the opposition box and should be a major threat to Shels again in Dublin.
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Key Match Stats
Ajax won both legs of their tie against Vojvodina on 4-1 scorelines
All three of their Conference League qualifiers have featured at least four goals
Shelbourne have won just two of their last 10 games and are without a clean sheet in seven home fixtures
Ajax recorded an xG figure of 6.08 in the first leg, with 11 shots on target and 14 corners
Since appointing John Russell, Shelbourne have lost four of their five games, including an FAI Cup exit at the hands of second-tier Kerry FC
There have been 14 goals scored in the Dubliners' three Conference League qualifiers so far
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This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.
