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

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St Patrick’s Athletic will look for their third successive home win on Friday when they welcome Waterford to Richmond Park (kick-off 7.45pm).

Monday evening’s 1-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers has Pats in fifth place on 21 points, five points clear of tomorrow evening’s opponents before a ball is kicked.

Waterford enjoyed a 2-0 victory at the RSC the last time these two sides met in March and both sides have seen an upturn in form recently, with Pats winning four of their last five.

"I thought we played quite well on Monday and while the result was disappointing,” manager Harry Kenny told the club’s website.

“I was pretty pleased with our performance overall. I thought we'd good passages of play, created a number of chances, didn't take them.

“Brendan [Clarke] had one or two saves to make, they had a few corners, which we dealt with fairly okay, and then we had a great chance near the end from Dean [Clarke].

"We have Waterford now on Friday back in Richmond Park and we will be looking to bounce back and try pick up another home win.

“We had a disappointing loss to them in the RSC earlier in the season, but it could have been a different game if we had taken our chances.

“Our home form has picked up lately and we have won three of our last four in Inchicore so with a good crowd behind us, hopefully we can make it tough for Waterford and pick up a result.”

Rhys McCabe misses out after picking up a concussion on Monday night, while David Webster is a doubt after picking up a knock, but Kevin Toner and Conor Clifford return from suspension.

WATERFORD

Alan Reynolds hopes his Waterford side can bounce back on their return to the capital following a 3-0 defeat to league champions Dundalk at the RSC earlier this week.

The Blues will take confidence from the last meeting between these sides back in March when an Aaron Drinan double sealed a 2-0 victory for Waterford.

Striker Drinan is a doubt ahead of the game alongside Zack Elbouzedi with Kenny Browne, Kevin Lynch and Dean Walsh all missing out on the trip.

Waterford have only won one of their seven league games on the road so far this season and Reynolds insists his side will do their best to respond after a busy few weeks and with key players missing.

“We’re coming to the end of a really busy couple of weeks but we just have to dust ourselves down and look to Friday night,” he told the club’s media team.

“We’re missing a few players again and Bastien [Hery] is suspended but we’ll just reorganise and look to play how well we know we can when we get going.”

Referee: Ray Matthews

MATCH STATS

Pats go into the game looking for their third successive home win when they welcome Waterford to Richmond Park.

Waterford won the early league meeting between the sides 2-0 at the RSC in March.

Five points currently separate the sides in the league table with Pats just ahead of Waterford in fifth position.

BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 4/5; Draw 5/2; Waterford 10/3

PREDICTION

St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Waterford

Waterford

Injured:  Kenny Browne, Kevin Lynch, Dean Walsh.

Doubtful: Aaron Drinan, Zack Elbouzedi.

Suspended: Bastian Hery.

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Rhys McCabe.

Doubtful: David Webster.

Suspended: None.