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

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Harry Kenny’s Saints side are unbeaten in their opening four league games of the season recording wins against Cork City and Sligo Rovers but were held to draws against the two newly promoted sides Finn Harps and UCD.

Although they remain unbeaten they have only scored three goals in their four league games with Mikey Drennan notching all three. 

Harry Kenny will be hoping that more of his squad start chipping in with goals as they look to continue their promising start to the season against Dublin rivals Shamrock Rovers on Friday (kick-off 7.45pm)

"Friday is our first Dublin derby of the season so we know that it there will be a big crowd down in Inchicore” said Kenny in the build up to the derby.

"It has been a good start to the season so we hope to continue that on Friday against Rovers. They are top of the league and have made a good start themselves so we expect a difficult game."

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Having responded well to last week’s disappointing derby defeat to rivals Bohemians with a scoreless draw with Dundalk last Friday, Rovers followed it up with a 3-0 home victory against Finn Harps on Monday.

That victory has Stephen Bradley’s side leading the way at the top of the table, level on points with Bohemians but with a one goal advantage in the goal difference stakes.

Bradley was happy with the response against Harps on Monday and is now looking to push on and start building momentum.



“It was a very good win over Finn Harps because they can be tricky games.” said Bradley about Monday’s victory at Tallaght Stadium.

“It’s a smaller crowd on a Monday night without the same buzz around it that we’ve had the last few weeks. It can be very easy to slip up and drop points but we didn’t. I thought we played really well in the first half and got the three points and the clean sheet which we’re happy with. 

“So it was a good night. The players knew before the game that we could go top, it’s nice to be up there but it’s still early in the season.”

Bradley is expecting a tough game in Richmond Park with plenty of his former players now plying their trade with the Inchicore outfit (nine in total).

“St Pat’s will be a difficult game, they’ve got some good players. It’s a Dublin Derby and there’ll be a big crowd. We’re ready for it and we’re looking forward to it. We did okay against Pat’s last season and it was a good goal by Danny (Carr) to win it last time out there. 
“All of the former Rovers players they have does add a bit of interest to it I suppose. The likes of Gary Shaw and Brandon Miele know how we like to play and we know how they like to play. They’d know little details and vice versa. 

“It’s different tomorrow though when you’re in the heat of it, those things can get lost. We want to get more points on the board, it’s as simple as that. There’s no point in looking any further ahead than that.”



Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

These sides played each other on four occasions last season in the league with Shamrock Rovers winning three and St. Pats one.

Mikey Drennan is leading the way for St. Pats in terms of goals with three league goals in the opening four games.

Dylan Watts and Aaron Greene both have two for Shamrock Rovers from five league games.

BETTING

St. Pats 12/5; Draw 11/5; Shamrock Rovers Evs

PREDICTION

St. Pat’s 2-2 Shamrock Rovers

St. Patrick's Athletic

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: None

Doubtful: Ethan Boyle

Suspended: None

    About Brendan Graham

    Brendan Graham has had a few stints with Extratime.ie and is back writing with them since November 2017.Brendan is a fan of Bohemian F.C and has been to most of the League of Ireland grounds … View Full Profile