League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Shamrock Rovers

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patrick's Athletic welcome Shamrock Rovers to Richmond Park for their second Dublin derby in four days (kick-off 7.45pm) with a win vital to their hopes of avoiding a first-ever relegation.

The Saints went down 3-2 to Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night having played 75 minutes with ten men following the dismissal of Gavin Peers.

Goals from Christy Fagan and Conan Byrne weren't enough as Izzy Akinade and a brace from Dinny Corcoran ensured a second straight defeat in the fixture for Liam Buckley's men.

"It's a big game on Monday as both sides need the points,” Buckley told the club's official website.

“We've had tight games with Rovers during the year and I expect nothing different on the night.

“We need to put in a really concentrated performance on Monday and everyone really needs to be at it from the off.

"We were unfortunate on Friday not to pick up a point or more but we cannot dwell on that. We've another Dublin Derby and it's a quick turnaround for the players.

“It's a big game for everyone involved between both the staff and supporters, and these are the games we all relish.

“We know that the crowd will come out in big numbers so it's up to us to give them something to shout about as we know they will get behind the team."

Darren Dennehy and Barry Murphy remain injury absentees, while Gavin Peers is suspended following his sending-off on Friday, but Ian Bermingham returns from suspension.

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers could move seven points clear of Derry City in the race for the third and final automatic European spot with victory over St Patrick's Athletic tonight.

The Hoops have led in each of their two meetings with the Saints this season but have failed to win or final with a full complement of players on either occasion.

It's a record Stephen Bradley will look to put right as he takes his team the short distance across south-west Dublin to Richmond Park.

“We know that Pats are going to be really up for it,” Bradley told the club's official website.

“Where they are in the league, they’re going to be fighting and especially tonight against us.

“They’ve got threats all over the pitch but we’ll be ready for that. It’s a big game for us as well because we can get a good grip on third if we go and win tonight.

“I feel that we haven’t quite performed against Pats. In Richmond we were good up until the sending off. At home we were good in the first half and then we slipped. In the second half we got sloppy.

“We owe ourselves to go and put on a performance and try and get the three points.We don’t pick and choose the games that we perform in, that’s just the way it goes sometimes in the year.

“Sometimes you have a dip and it’s just unfortunate that two times it’s happened to us it’s been against Pats. We’ve got to put that right tonight.”

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

The Dublin rivals have met twice this season, with the Saints holding the upper hand to date.

The first meeting at Richmond Park finished 2-1 to Pats after second-half goals from subs Kurtis Byrne and Josh O'Hanlon turned around Gary Shaw's early opener.

Graham Burke scored early for Rovers in the return game at Tallaght Stadium in June but Burke was sent off after the break following Christy Fagan's equaliser, the game finishing 1-1.

BETTING

St Patrick's Athletic 21/10; Draw 12/5; Shamrock Rovers 5/4.

PREDICTION

St Patrick's Athletic 1 – 1 Shamrock Rovers

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Darren Dennehy, Barry Murphy.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Gavin Peers.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Graham Burke (knee), Paul Corry (knee).

Doubtful: Trevor Clarke (ankle), Michael O'Connor (shoulder).

Suspended: David McAllister.