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

WATERFORD

Waterford could do with a win this evening when they welcome St. Patricks Athletic to the RSC (kick-off 7.45pm).

Alan Reynolds’ side have picked up just four points from the fifteen on offer in the opening weeks of the season and are sitting in eight place.

Despite last weekend’s 4-0 defeat to Dundalk, Waterford will take positives from their two home games so far this season. They held their own on the opening night of the season against Shamrock Rovers losing the game to an injury time winner. They also performed well and battled hard to pick up a point against an unbeaten Bohs side two weeks ago.

Speaking to the club website ahead of tonight’s match against St. Pats, Alan Reynolds said “Last week’s match in Dundalk was a tough one for us. I thought we were decent in the first half and we were on top of them looking for the first goal, but we conceded a silly goal ourselves.

“When you play against top opposition like Dundalk, you have to be on your game and it just takes one chance to turn a game on its head.

“The lads were disappointed after the game but we have to pick ourselves up and go again. St Pats have started the season well and have lost just once so they’ll be out to pick up points.

“Harry [Kenny] has put together a really good squad and I think they’ll be up there this season. But we know what we have to do to get the points. We’ve been training hard and we’re prepared."

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St. Pats will travel to Waterford hoping for a response following a disappointing derby defeat at home to Shamrock Rovers last Friday evening.

Harry Kenny’s side have picked up eight points from a possible fifteen so far this season and sit in fifth place ahead of tonight’s fixtures.

The Saints have only conceded two goals in five league games as they travel to Waterford but have also only scored three at the other end with Drennan the only league goal scorer for St. Pats this season.

Following last Friday’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers, manager Harry Kenny is hoping his side can bounce back as quickly as possible.

Speaking to the club website ahead of the game, Kenny said "I was a little bit disappointed in the way we performed last week against Shamrock Rovers.

“In saying that and looking back at the game a couple of times since, we created a few chances through Brandon [Miele] before the penalty and then a couple of minutes before half-time from Mikey Drennan which could have gone in.

"But football is like that and it just was not meant to be. That said, we need to bounce back this weekend against Waterford."

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

These sides met each other on four occasions in the league last season with Waterford taking all three points in both games at the RSC and St. Pats winning both games at home in Richmond Park.

Mikey Drennan leads the way in terms of goals so far for St. Pats this season with three league goals after five league games played.

BETTING

Waterford 17/10; Draw 21/10; St. Pats 13/8

PREDICTION

Waterford 1-2 St. Pats

Waterford

Injured:  None

Doubtful: Shane Duggan, Izzy Akinade, Kenny Browne

Suspended: None

St. Pats

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None