League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Derry City

ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St. Pats will play host to Derry City this evening at Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45pm) as they look to build on Friday night’s hard fought draw away to Cork City.

The Saints currently trail tonight’s visitors by five points in the league table and will be without key striker Mikey Drennan once again this evening as he serves the final ninety minutes of his three match ban.

These sides are yet to meet this season as the first meeting of the 2019 season between the two was postponed as a result of international call ups.

Harry Kenny’s side will need to improve their conversion rate in front of goal at home having only found the net twice in four league games but believes Friday’s result will give his side the confidence they need.

"Derry have made a good start to the league campaign and picked up a good 3 points away to UCD on Friday,” Kenny told the club website ahead of the game.

“They will travel back down to Dublin to face us and will be confident. Declan Devine is back with them this year and they have a very talented group of young players who will pose us problems.

"But our lads are in good form at the moment and we hope that we can show the same quality and commitment that we have seen recently and hopefully pick up another three points in Inchicore."

DERRY CITY

Derry City travel to the capital for the second time in just four days as they look to follow up Friday’s victory over UCD by taking home another three points from Inchicore this evening.

Friday’s victory over UCD leaves Declan Devine’s men in third place on seventeen points, just three behind Bohemians.

It will be a busy Easter week for the Candystripes as following tonight’s game they will host Shamrock Rovers at the Brandywell on Friday before travelling to Waterford next Monday.

Devine’s side are in very good form at the moment though and will be confident of picking up points in all three games in the coming week.

Speaking to the club website ahead of the game Devine said, “We know this will be an ultra-tough game but we go there confident and on a decent run ourselves.

“It’s proving to be the really competitive league we thought it would be and I’m just delighted that we’re there or thereabouts. We have worked so hard as a unit and I think our supporters see that.

“It’s a tough run of matches but the players love playing and that’s why we’re in this”

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

St. Pats have picked up seven points from a possible twelve at home so far this season.

Derry’s record on the road this season has seen them pick up a total of eight points from a possible fifteen so far.

BETTING

St. Pats 11/8; Draw 2/1; Derry City 21/10

Prediction

St. Pats 1-2 Derry City

St. Patrick's Athletic

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Mikey Drennan, Dave Webster

Derry City

Injured: Michael McCrudden

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Jamie McDonagh