League Preview: Drogheda United -v- St Patrick's Athletic

Drogheda United will look to make it two wins from two games as they host St. Patrick’s Athletic at United Park on Friday evening.

DROGHEDA UNITED

Drogheda United kicked off their return to the Premier Division with a 1-0 win away to Galway last week thanks to a late Gareth McCaffrey strike.

Speaking to the www.droghedaunited.ie, manager Pete was quick to point out the depth he feels he has in his squad and the fact that two substitutes combined for the winning goal.

“We were much improved second-half and looked the more likely to score the longer the game went on. We had no intention of sitting back and settling for a draw and we are rewarded in the end through Gareth’s goal. 

"It shows the strength in depth of our squad that it was two substitutes who combined for the goal and then you consider some of the names we didn’t even have on the bench and it bodes well."

Mahon expects a reaction from St. Pat’s on Friday but hopes his side can make United Park a fortress this season, building on their impressive home record in the First Division last season.

“I didn’t see the Pat’s game on Friday but I heard they were very poor on the night so you would expect a reaction from them. We'll need to improve our performance level across the pitch if we are to get the right result."

Sean Brennan is back available for the Boynesiders’ as is Marc Griffin, who has recovered from a hamstring injury. However, Drogheda will be without the injured Killian Brennan, who broke his collarbone on his debut in the win over Galway.

“It was a real shame for Killian’s debut to end like that and I know he was really looking forward to facing one of his former sides in St Pat’s on Friday. The timing could’ve been worse for us as we are still finding our feet and it’ll give other players an opportunity to impress,” Mahon said. 

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Liam Buckley’s side will be hoping to make amends for their opening day defeat to Bray Wanderers with a win over Drogheda United.

Buckley told www.stpatsfc.com that his side are looking to bounce back from what he says was a poor performance but said he knows his side won’t get an easy game on Friday evening.

“After last week’s disappointing result and performance, we’ve been keen all week to play this game as we want to put in a much better performance and hopefully get a result.

“Drogheda are coming off a good win and as a newly promoted side, that is what you look to do early in the year in terms of getting as many points on the board as possible.  You never get an easy game in United Park so we’ll need to improve on last week if we’re to get a result.”

St Pat’s captain Ian Bermingham echoed the statement of his manager saying that a better performance will be needed, especially against a side managed by Pete Mahon.

“Any team managed by Pete will give 100% and if we’re anything below that level, we won’t get a result.  We need to be at our best, but I think we have learned from last week and can get the three points on Friday if we play the way we know we can.” 

The Saints will be without suspended duo Aidan Keena and Darren Dennehy following their red cards in the defeat to Bray Wanderers. However, defender Rory Feely is now available after serving an outstanding suspension from the 2016 season.

Referee: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

These sides last faced each other in the 2015 season with St. Pat’s winning two of the meetings 2-0 and 2-1 respectively after the first meeting between the sides had ended in a 2-2 draw.

Drogheda United have not beaten the Saints since a 2-0 win at Richmond Park in 2012. Gavin Brennan who has now re-joined the Louth side opened the scoring that day with Peter Hynes netting the second.

In the last six games between these sides, St. Pat’s have scored nineteen goals to Drogheda’s five.

BETTING

Drogheda United 23/10; Draw 21/10; St Patrick’s Athletic 13/10.

PREDICTION

Drogheda United 1-1 St. Patrick’s Athletic

Drogheda United

Injured: Killian Brennan (broken collarbone).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Aidan Keena, Darren Dennehy.