League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Drogheda United

• Macdara Ferris
• Thu, Oct 15 2015




ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

There is plenty to play for in Inchicore for both St. Pat's and Drogheda when the two sides go head-to-head in front of the live TV cameras on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm, live on RTÉ 2).

 

United are very much involved in an epic relegation battle that sees six points separate the bottom seven teams with three games remaining. Meanwhile the Saints are seeking European football for the sixth year running and could have that sown up over the weekend.

 

A St. Pat’s win over the Boynesiders, coupled with Bohemians failing to beat Sligo on Saturday, will mean that Europa League qualification will be theirs. With a game in hand and five points more than Bohs below them, Pat’s are currently positioned in fourth place but trail third placed Shamrock Rovers by six points (albeit the Hoops have played one game more than Pat’s).


The Saints’ Euro ambitions were dented by Bohs last week when Pat’s lost 2-0 but their manager is hopeful that a run of home games over the next week will see them at least confirm Europe for next season.
 

"Last week was disappointing, a few things didn't go our way and we were disappointed with the goals we conceded,” said Liam Buckley speaking to stpatsfc.com. “But we've got to pick ourselves up now for the Drogheda game. They're fighting for survival at the moment with a number of teams, so we know it'll be a tough game."
 

"But we've only three games left at home now in Inchicore over the next week, so we'll be looking to finish on a high in front of our supporters."

 

After Friday’s fixture, the Saints welcome Cork City to Richmond Park next Monday before taking on Sligo Rovers in Inchicore in the last home game of the year. They will round off their season with a trip to Galway on the last night of the campaign.

 

Having been suspended last week but missing the game against Bohs due to Ireland under 21 commitments, Sean Hoare and all at St. Pat’s won’t be overly happy to learn that he remains suspended for this game. Also missing due to disciplinary issues will be Jason McGuinness, sent off last week, and Greg Bolger who, having gathered 12 yellow cards this season, is serving the second of his two match ban.


Kenny Browne does at least return from his recent suspension, while both Lee Desmond and Killian Brennan return to the matchday squad having missed last week's defeat through injury. There are doubts though over Ger O'Brien and he will face a late fitness test before kickoff.

 

The teams have met twice this season with the first match in Inchicore ending in a 2-2 draw. It was an away win for St. Pat’s in Drogheda last time out with the goals (available to view through the following links) scored by Jamie McGrath and Killian Brennan.

 

That was during the Saints’ record breaking nine match winning run but since that sequence came to an end their form has been abysmal; Pat’s have lost five of their last six games.

 

Speaking to stpatsfc.com, James Chambers knows what his team need to do. "We know we've to bounce back from last week's defeat,” said the Pat’s midfielder. “Drogheda will be difficult as we have had two tough games against them this season.

 

“They won't make it easy for us, and with Mark Kinsella now in charge, he'll know how to set-up having taken over from Johnny [McDonnell] but we've to concentrate on ourselves first.

 

“If we do that, we know we can win the game. If we don't play well, we could drop points so we've got to get back to focusing on ourselves and hopefully then the result will come."
 

 

DROGHEDA UNITED

With things so tight in the relegation battle, a win for United could, if all results go their way, see them jump from 11^th to 7^th by the end of the weekend; they could also find themselves bottom of the table too. The Boynesiders are currently sitting in the relegation play-off spot and are just two points above Limerick who currently prop up the table.

 

United come into the game on the back of a 1-1 draw at home to Cork City last week, a result that handed the league title to Dundalk. Keith Treacy made it two goals in two games when he put Drogheda 1-0 up before Karl Sheppard’s equalised for Cork.

 

Mark Kinsella, since taking charge of the Boynesiders, has steadied the ship picking up five points from four games and the United boss was pleased with the outcome against Cork City, the team who look likely to finish runners up in the league for the second year running.

 

“I was delighted with our performance and I think it was a good point to pick up,” said Kinsella speaking to his club’s website. “It’s important to remember that Cork are second in the league and it was vital for us not to be beaten at home.

 

“It was disappointing how cheaply we gave away the goal but we handled the pressure brilliantly. The way the game was going, I thought we might have won it with a set-piece but it wasn’t to be and I think a draw was probably a fair result.”

 

After travelling to Dublin for Friday’s match, United have a final home fixture against Longford Town before ending the season in Tallaght Stadium with a game against Shamrock Rovers. Kinsella will be looking to maximise his side’s return from those fixtures.

 

“The group have been a credit to themselves over the last six weeks. We have only lost once since I took over and that was to Dundalk who seem to win every week. The players know that earlier in the season there were games that they should have won that they ended up losing but our attitude is different now.

 

“Training has been done at a very high tempo and the players are starting to bring that into the games on a Friday night and hopefully we are now going to reap the rewards as we enter the business end of the season.”

 

 “I really enjoy watching [Pat’s] play. They zip the ball around nicely and have some of the best individual talents in the league. I know they aren’t in the best form at the moment but they have been in the top four all season for a reason.

 

“St Pat’s have home advantage and the game being live on TV does add another dimension to it but we need to make sure that we are ready to give them a game.”

 

Referee: Neil Doyle.

 

MATCH STATS

Pat’s have won only one match from their last six games – conceding 13 goals and scoring only six – half of which came in their only win in that sequence, their 3-0 away win against Longford Town.

 

Drogheda have one solitary league victory from their last twelve games.

 

Chris Forrester, now with Peterborough United, remains the Saints top goalscorer in the league with 11 goals, four ahead of Aaron Greene. Top marksman for United is Lee Duffy who has six goals.

 

BETTING

Pat's 4/9; Draw 16/5; Drogheda 6/1. 

 

PREDICTION

1-1

 

St. Pat's

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Ger O’Brien.

Suspended: Jason McGuinness, Greg Bolger, Sean Hoare.

 

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Robert Bayly.

Suspended: None.