League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Bohemians

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patrick's Athletic look to improve on the league's worst home record when they welcome one of the three teams they've beaten this season to Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

Despite their poor home form, 11 of their 15 points have come in the capital, with three coming in a 4-0 victory over Bohemians at Dalymount Park.

One more came away to Shamrock Rovers in the final game before the break as Christy Fagan's second-half goal earned a 1-1 for the Saints.

That result left Pats a point and a place above bottom side Galway United and manager Liam Buckley will hope to take some confidence from that in the second half of the season.

“After a good result against Rovers, the break was welcome as we could use it to get the players some rest and just assess things,” Buckley told the club's website.

“We have a big second half of the season ahead and need to improve on our position. The first game back after the break is always a tough game.

“However, with it being Bohs, it’s one the players and supporters are looking forward to as there is a good rivalry between the sides.

“We performed well the last day out in Dalymount against Bohs, but I’m sure Keith Long will have them really fired up for this in order to bounce back from that particular result.

“Inchicore is always buzzing on a Dublin Derby night so it should make for a good game, and one that we can hopefully come out of with three points.”

Darren Dennehy remains sidelined with a foot injury while Michael Barker, Pat Cregg and Gavin Peers are all suspended due to accumulated bookings.

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will have revenge in mind – as well as relegation – when they make the short trip across Dublin to face the Saints.

Keith Long's side were humiliated 4-0 in front of their own fans the last time the teams met, with Conan Byrne's outrageous goal from his own half a particularly bitter pill.

Bohs have won two of their last four games and drawn another coming into the break, however, and Long will hope the enforced time off hasn't sapped their momentum.

"We could have done without the mid-season break. I don't really see the point of it,” Long told the club's website ahead of the trip to Inchicore.

"But it's a good game to start back with. It's a Dublin derby and Richmond Park is a great surface to play on.”

With both teams in relegation trouble, the outcome of this game becomes all the more important, even if many are surprised to see Pats at the wrong end of the table.

“The table doesn't lie but they turned us over the last time we played them, so we know all about the quality they possess.

"But we have to concentrate on our own game and ensure we put in a good performance.

"We've worked hard in training all week and we've hammered that home to the players."

Full-back Lorcan Fitzgerald is suspended due to accumulated yellows while Dylan Hayes has received an additional two-game ban for his sending-off in the defeat to Limerick.

Eoin Wearen is out for the season, Izzy Akinade remains sidelined despite playing 45 minutes in a training game on Wednesday, while new signing Steo Donnelly remains ineligible.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

The sole meeting between the two sides this season saw Pats run out 4-0 winners as they completed a double of Dublin Derby wins following the defeat of Shamrock Rovers six days earlier.

Bohemians' record in Richmond Park has made for difficult reading for the Gypsies in recent times, with last season's 1-0 win – thanks to current Saint Kurtis Byrne – their only win in 11.

The teams met three times last year with Bohs having the upper hand. Pats won their first meeting 3-0 at Richmond Park before Bohs responded with a 5-1 thumping at Dalymount before the aforementioned win in Inchicore.

BETTING

St Patrick's Athletic Evens; Draw 12/5; Bohemians 14/5.

PREDICTION

St Patrick's Athletic 2 – 0 Bohemians

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Darren Dennehy (foot).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Michael Barker, Pat Cregg, Gavin Peers.

Bohemians

Injured: Izzy Akinade, Eoin Wearen.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Lorcan Fitzgerald, Dylan Hayes.

Unavailable: Steo Donnelly (ineligible).