League Preview: St Pats -v- UCD
Credit:
ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
Defending league champions St.Patrick's Athletic will play hosts for the first time this season when they entertain UCD. The Saints, who began the defence of their title with a 1-1 draw away to Cork City at Turner's Cross last Friday, will be hoping to register their first win of the season as they seek to complete back to back league titles for the third time in their history.
Speaking to stpatsfc.com ahead of his side's meeting with the Students, Pat's manager Liam Buckley spoke of how he is looking forward to the Saints' return to action at Richmond Park.
“The players always have a spring in their step when they get ready for games in Richmond Park and they really respond to the great support we get from the fans in Inchicore. We’ll be looking to get the result on Friday evening for them.”
Unfortunately for Buckley, he will be without the services of 2013 PFAI Player of the Year Killian Brennan who misses out having suffered a groin strain in the warm up at Turner's Cross last week. Also sidelined for the Inchicore men is promising young defender Sean Hoare.
UCD
UCD will make the short trip from Dublin 4 to Dublin 8 on Friday night hoping to perform substantially better than they have in their last two games.
The Students have suffered a turbulent first week of the season with them falling foul of successive 3-0 home defeats at the hands of Bohemians, the first being in last Friday's league opener and the second coming in the first round of the EA Sports Cup. New UCD boss Aaron Callaghan is adamant the Students improve in the areas of defensive organisation and concentration if they are to avoid relegation this season.
“We really need to look at ourselves on an individual basis and correct that to make sure we move forward as a team. Each player in our squad can improve and if this happens then we will start to reap the rewards and I have no doubt we will begin to get the results we deserve and are capable of. When it comes to playing the bigger clubs in the league, organisation and concentration are key.”
With the exception of James Kavanagh over whom injury doubts hang over, Callaghan has a full complement of players to choose from. Callaghan himself will remain absent from the dugout as he serves the third game of a five match ban.
Referee: Paul Tuite
MATCH STATS
St.Pat's assistant manager Martin Russell will be looking for revenge over his former employers on Friday night after the rather bitter developments which surrounded Russell's departure from the Belfield Bowl.
UCD boss Aaron Callaghan enjoyed a very brief spell as a St. Pat's player during the 1999/2000 season when he made just four appearances for the Richmond Park club.
The last league meeting between the two teams ended in a 3-1 victory for St. Pat's at the Belfield Bowl after goals from Chris Forrester, Anto Flood and Jake Kelly gave the Saints victory after falling behind to Robbie Benson's 23rd minute opener for the Students.
BETTING
St. Patrick's Athletic 1/6 Draw 5/1 UCD 16/1
PREDICTION
St. Pat's to win 2-0
St. Patrick's Athletic:
Injured: Killian Brennan (groin strain), Sean Hoare
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
UCD:
Injured: None
Doubtful: James Kavanagh
Suspended: Aaron Callaghan (3 matches)
