League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Finn Harps

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

It's 'Monday Night Delight' in Inchicore as half of the leagues' winless quartet meet each other as 10th place St Patrick's Athletic host 9th place Finn Harps (kick-off 7.45pm).

How times have changed for Liam Buckley's side. They are no longer the title challenging heavyweights of years gone by, and find themselves in the unusual position of being dragged into a dreaded relegation dogfight if the first three games are anything to go by.

It may be a bit presumptuous to make statements like this but the feeling around Inchicore is that boss Liam Buckley is under immense pressure, and the seventh place finish last year does not help the mood of the Pats board and fans alike when the topic of the manager is discussed.

The 2013 champions have yet to win a game and have registered a worrying one point from a possible nine so far. Gameweek 1 and 2 resulted in defeats by Bray Wanderers and Drogheda United respectively.

Last Friday night though, they showed some determination and fighting spirit that was lacking in those aforementioned defeats by coming from behind to draw 1-1 with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds. Fullback Michael Barker netted a 75^th-minute volley from 20 yards to quash rumours the squad are 'mentally soft'.

Talisman Christy Fagan has been a regular starter for the Saints but Buckley named him on the bench in Sligo, with Josh O' Hanlon starting up front in his place. If the Inchicore outfit are to secure their first win of the season, they need their number nine back on the form he's capable of.

"Looking ahead to Monday and Finn Harps, we know it'll be tough as Harps have shown they have a strong goal scoring threat in their games so far this season so we know we'll need to be fully concentrated if we're to get a result,” Buckley told the club's website.

"There's no easy games in the league. We can only worry about ourselves and look to improve game on game and raise our levels of performance.

“It was good to get off the mark with the point in Sligo and hopefully that positive can be a good thing for us heading into the Harps game.

“They've impressed so far this season so it'll be another tight game."

Pats will once again be without defender Darren Dennehy and striker Aidan Keena after the pair were banned for three games after being sent off against Bray on the opening day.

FINN HARPS

After being fortunate to secure their first point of the new League of Ireland Premier Division campaign against Galway United on Friday night thanks to Sean Houston's strike, Finn Harps are on the road to Dublin to take on St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Manager Ollie Horgan is looking for a positive result that will hopefully build a bit of momentum after losing to Cork City and Bray Wanderers in the first two matches of the season.

Horgan says an overall improved team performance will be required from his side to get anything out of the trip to Inchicore.

“We got a draw against Galway but we will have to play a lot better in order to get a result against Pats,” he told the club's website.

“Like ourselves they only got their first point on Friday night so Liam Buckley will have his players up to get a win against us”

Harps are also away on Saturday to play Limerick, so it is going to be a hugely challenging week for the part-time outfit but Horgan is making no excuses.

“We now have two away games in the space of five days. That is Premier Division football and it’s good to be there so will get on with it starting tomorrow night against Pat’s.”

Paddy McCourt is a big doubt after coming off with coming off with a knee injury during Friday night’s game against Galway. And, following training on Sunday morning, Horgan also has concerns over Barry Molloy and Danny Morrissey.

The Donegal side were unfortunate not to take something from their first away trip of the season to Bray Wanderers as a number of questionable refereeing decision saw them fall to a 5-3 defeat.

So if they can put in a similar performance against the Saints that they conjured up against Bray, and sort out their leaky backline, there is no reason why they can’t leave Dublin with the victory.

Harps have recently bolstered their squad with the acquisition of the aforementioned former Sligo Rovers midfielder Pascal Millen, subject to international clearance.

“He will give us more options which will be needed for a long, tough season,” said Horgan.

“Pascal is an attacking midfielder who can score goals. He is good at linking up with front men.”

Referee: Ben Connolly.

MATCH FACTS

Monday’s game will be the 63^rd meeting between the clubs; Pats having 31 victories to Harp's 18. There has been 13 draws.

Harps have yet to register a win against the Saints in the last 10 games, registering just two draws and eight defeats.

In those 10 games, the home side netted an average of 2.6 goals per game vs Harps, whereas Harps only averaged 0.8.

In Gameweek 3, the four teams that were winless all played each other. Finn Harps played Galway and St Pats played Sligo and those two games both ended in a stalemate.

Which means, ironically, Pats and Harps will meet still without a win heading into Gameweek 4 along with the previously mentioned Galway and Sligo.

From the 3 meetings last season, Pats have the upper hand; By winning 1-2 and drawing 1-1 in Balleyboffey. A 4-0 result in Richmond Park was in Pats favour in between these games.

MATCH BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 4/7; Draw 13/5; Finn Harps 11/2

PREDICTION

St Patricks Athletic 2 – 1 Finn Harps

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Darren Dennehy, Aidan Keena.

Finn Harps

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Paddy McCourt, Barry Molloy, Danny Morrissey.

Suspended: None.