EA Sports Cup Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Dundalk

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The winners of the last four EA Sports Cups meet each other in the second round on Monday night at Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45 pm).

Pats come into the cup clash coming on the back of a 5-0 win at home to basement club Bray Wanderers on Friday night.

A brace from Jake Keegan and one each from Kevin Toner, Conan Byrne and Dean Clarke condemned the Seagulls to an eighth league defeat in a row as the Inchicore men claimed their fourth win of the season.

Boss Liam Buckley was happy with his charge’s performance in the win and has no injury concerns for the hosting of Dundalk.

When discussing tomorrow night’s opponents, Buckley was in complementary mood but is also aware that his side can more than match the table-toppers, as evidenced by last month’s 0-0 league draw between the sides.

"We are facing a very good Dundalk side on Monday who are on a great run of results lately," Buckley told the club’s website.

"They had a good win on Friday against Shamrock Rovers and now find themselves top of the table.

“We got a good 0-0 draw a few weeks back against them though so we are confident we can get another result."

Buckley is adamant that if he chooses to change up his team, the eleven he picks on Monday will solely be looking for the win and progression to the next round.

“In terms of selection, we'll be looking to balance things between maintaining our team and giving a few lads a chance to get some minutes.

“However, whatever group of players goes out to play on Monday night, they will be looking to get a result and progress to the next round.

“Several of our group have experience of winning this competition, so we know that we have enough experience and talent in this group to win more silverware."

DUNDALK

The defending EA Sports Cup champions travel to Dublin 8 for the second time this season, off the back of a hard fought 2-1 win at home to Shamrock Rovers on Friday night.

A Robbie Benson strike and a rare Chris Shields goal in nine second-half minutes, meant Dan Carr’s 75^th minute header was just a mere consolation for the Hoops.

The win left Dundalk top of the league by way of goal difference, level on points with Waterford.

Speaking ahead of the trip to Dublin, midfielder Jamie McGrath said that while he knowsthe side can play better than Friday night against Rovers, he was pleased to get the win.

“It was a scrappy enough game and we were happy to just get the three points,” he told the club’s official website.

“It was not our best performance at all but we battled well. We know we can play better.

“It showed that when we are not at our best that we can hang in there and still get the results that we need. We showed a different side of us and we were delighted to win.”

McGrath pointed to the importance of the EA Sports Cup to his current club, however is anticipating a tough encounter against his old employers.

“This competition is very important to us. The manager has ingrained in us to win every game. We do not want to pass up any opportunity to win any silverware.

“We want to win everything. All of us want to win and we know it will be difficult against Pat’s because they are a good side but we will be going out to win and hopefully we can get through to the next round.”

Referee: Adriano Reale

MATCH STATS

The home side have won this competition four times, with their last two coming in 2015 and 2016.

In 2015, they beat Galway United 4-3 on penalties, after drawing 0-0 after extra time at Eamon Deacy Park.

A year later, they defended their title with a 4-1 win against Limerick at Market's Field. Jamie McGrath scored three goals for the Saints in the competition that year.

Dundalk have won the competition a total of six times. Last year, they beat Shamrock Rovers 3-0 in the final in a rain-soaked Tallaght Stadium.

David McMillan, Patrick McEleney and a late Thomas Stewart strike won them the cup. Those trio of scorers have, coincidently, go on to leave the Co. Louth club in the off-season.

Both sides have played each other 34 times competitively. Pats winning 16 of those games, Dundalk winning 13 and there have been five stalemates.

Last year, St Pats were knocked out at the quarter-final stage, losing 2-0 to Cork City at Turner's Cross.

BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 10/3; Draw 12/5; Dundalk 4/6.

PREDICTION

St Patrick’s Athletic 0 – 1 Dundalk

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Dundalk

Injured: Gary Rogers (calf), Karolis Chvedukas (ankle), Brian Gartland (illness).

Doubtful: Sean Hoare (groin).

Suspended: None.