GALWAY United fans have been warned to buy their tickets in advance for this Friday night’s clash with Shamrock Rovers at Eamonn Deacy Park (7.45pm), as tickets will not be on sale at the ground.

The game is expected to be a sellout: the ground will operate with a capacity just north of 4,200, with Rovers having sold out of their allocation of 423, which didn’t come close to meeting demand from the Hoops.

On top of needing to buy tickets in advance, United manager John Caulfield is also urging fans to get to the ground early and build an atmosphere for what should be a cracking contest as the home side look to end one of their shocking records against the country’s most successful club.

Rovers have won every one of their last 13 visits to the Dyke Road, all bar one of which were by a single goal: the last time United took any points from a home league game against the Tallaght side was a 1-1 draw back in 2008 when Jesper Jorgensen scored an 85th minute equaliser, three minutes after Darragh Maguire had given the visitors the lead.

In fact, United’s last home win in the Premier Division over the Hoops was all the way back in 2000 when Eric Lavine scored the only goal of the game, and United will be looking to another overseas striker to provide the goals to end that long winless run this Friday.

Moses Dyer opened his United account last month when scoring in the 1-1 draw with Derry City in the Brandywell, and the New Zealander – who has been capped 11 times by the All Whites (as the football side is known) – followed that up with both goals last week in the win over Bohs, including a spectacular second goal that evoked memories of Marco Van Basten’s wonder strike for the Netherlands against the USSR in Euro 88.

“We said to Moses, ‘when you get into those positions, just hit them’, because he has a very good strike of the ball. He did well for the first goal as well, a great passing move, Bobby did really well and then putting in the cross and it was a fantastic header from Moses.

“We have seen Moses really coming into his own in the last month, and we are really happy with that,” Caulfield said after the win over Bohs last Friday night.

Pictured: Galway United manager John Caulfield and his assistant Ollie Horgan who have guided their team to joint top of the Premier Division ahead of Friday’s big home test against Shamrock Rovers.