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

CORK CITY

Cork City prepare for their fourth home game in two weeks as they welcome Saint Patrick’s Athletic to Turners Cross. (KO: 7:45).

The home side come into this game off the back of three wins against Waterford United in the EA Sports Cup and against Finn Harps and Shamrock Rovers in the league respectively which brought the Leesiders up to 3^rd place in the league table, just four points behind leaders Dundalk.

Going into the game, manager John Caulfield praised his sides next opponents, calling the Dublin side title contenders.

“It’s a huge game again against another of the title contenders. Liam has brought a lot of new players in this year and changed his team around. We know how big the game is, but we have two wins under our belt and hopefully we can continue that momentum into the game on Friday.

“We need to make sure we can perform as well as we have in the last two games and we need to be ready for Pat’s, but there is confidence in the squad at the moment.

“They have a very strong squad. They still have a lot of the nucleus of the squad from when they won the league. He has a mixture of youth and experience and he is trying to gel the squad.”

Eoghan O’Connell will defiantly be out for tomorrow night’s game, as he was recalled back to his parent club Celtic during the week, but there is good news for City on the defensive front, as ex-Pats defender Kenny Browne has returned from suspension. The Rebel Army will also be without John Kavanagh, who is still out after an injury he obtained in July. Karl Sheppard and Alan Bennett are both doubts having picked up minor knocks.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The Saints come into this game off the back of two wins against Wexford Youths in the league and Dundalk in the EA Sports Cup, but they did lose to Bray Wanderers in the league last week, which see the Inchicore side in fifth place in the table, two points behind their opponents on Friday.

Liam Buckley was also full of praise for his opposite number, saying that John Caulfield's side were one of the top teams in the county, and that he was looking forward to the game.

“Friday’s game is set to be a really tough game for us as we’re facing one of the top sides in the country.  John Caulfield has a very strong squad and Turner’s Cross is always a great venue to play in as Cork are a very well supported side.

“We’ll be looking to go and compete with them.  They play good football so it should be a good game for the neutral.  Following last week’s defeat, we need to try and put things right.  I felt we were a little unlucky, but we still need to improve on a few things so we’ve been working hard on putting them right in training this week.”

Ex-Manchester United youth player Christy Fagan is a doubt for Friday's game, but he will go under a late fitness test, but the visitors will defiantly be without both their first choice and back up goalkeepers Brendan Clarke and Conor O'Malley. Clarke is suspended while O'Malley is missing due to an ankle injury.

Referee: Derek Tomney

MATCH FACTS

This will be the 88^th encounter for the two sides, St Pats have won 33 of those games, Cork City have won 30 and there has been 25 draws between the two.

St Pats knocked Cork City out of last season EA Sports Cup at the quarter final stage, after a 1-1 draw on the night, Pats won 4-3 on penalties.

The last three meetings between the sides have seen Cork City come out the victors, City beat Pats in the FAI Cup 4-0 and in the league 3-1 and 2-1 respectively.

BETTING

Cork City 8/13; Draw 11/4; St Patrick’s Athletic 4/1

PREDICITION

Cork City 2-1 St Patrick’s Athletic

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh, Eoghan O'Connell

Doubtful: Karl Sheppard, Alan Bennett

Suspended: None

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Conor O'Malley

Doubtful: Christy Fagan

Suspended: Brendan Clarke