League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Athlone Town
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ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC
Liam Buckley’s men will be hoping to return to the familiar position of top spot with a home win against Athlone Town at Richmond Park. The two sides could not be in more contrasting form, The Saints are in search of a fifth straight league victory whereas their visitors are in search of their first points of the season.
Pats boss Liam Buckley began his management career at Lissywollen and former Racing Santander striker Buckley is full of sentiments for his former employers in the midlands. He told stpatsfc.com: “Athlone are a great club and it’s fantastic to see them back in the Premier Division of the SSE Airtricity League. There are some great people involved in the club so I hope they can have a great season.”
Although that sentiment stands, The man in charge of the champions is hoping that they can keep their fine run of form going: “We’re on a good run at the moment in the league so we just want to continue that. We’d two good wins on the bounce recently in the games against Bohemians and Drogheda so we’re looking to keep this good momentum going.” He told stpatsfc.com
ATHLONE TOWN
Town will continue to be down to the bare bones as they make the trip to Dublin to face The Saints. They were only able to field a squad of fourteen on Monday against Dundalk and Sean Byrne from that squad will be unavailable for this one due to suspension.
They do welcome back Alan Byrne, Derek Prendergast and Paul Skinner from suspension though, which will aid a side who have haemorrhaged 23 goals in just nine league outings thus far. “The Town” will however still be without the services of a duo of defensive stalwarts from the league winning campaign last season, Aidan Collins and Neil Harney remain on the sidelines through injury.
Manager Mick Cooke knows just how tough it will be to go to Richmond Park and pick up a result but he and his charges are taking heart from the performance on Monday against Dundalk: “It is a huge ask to go to Richmond Park and get a result be we are well capable of doing it. No one gave us a chance against Dundalk on Monday but we were excellent despite missing a number of players and anyone there will tell you we deserved at least a point from the game.”
Referee: Paul McLaughlin
MATCH STATS
Last time these two sides met in a Premier Division game at Richmond Park was in the 1995/96 season with the eventual champions that season, St Pats, running out 3-2 winners.
Athlone Town have made the worst start to a Premier Division season since St James Gate in the 1942/43 season.
In three games against Pats last season, Mick Cooke, when in charge of Drogheda United, only picked up a solitary point from a possible nine in the three meetings.
BETTING
St Patrick's Athletic 1/8 Draw 13/2 Athlone Town 18/1
PREDICTION
3-0 St Patrick's Athletic
