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

SHAMROCK ROVERS  

Tuesday night’s 1-0 home defeat to Derry City put a dent in Rovers’ European ambitions so the Hoops are looking to get back to winning ways on Friday when St. Patrick’s Athletic visit Tallaght Stadium (kick off 7.45pm).

Rovers are boosted by the arrival of a new member of their coaching team - with Stephen Bradley’s 60 days as interim manager up during the week, the Hoops needed to bring a UEFA Pro-Licence holder into their management team. They have done that by adding Sami Ristila to their coaching ticket.

The former Finnish international and ex-manager of FC Haka and KooTeePee has come to Rovers to work alongside Stephen Bradley. The pair played together at Drogheda United and there is another Rovers connection for Ristila who played with and managed Rovers’ Head of Player and Coach Development Shane Robinson.

Speaking on his appointment, Ristila said he was looking forward to getting “stuck into work straight away on Friday for the match against St Pat’s.” Rovers’ mid-week match against Derry was the first time that a Bradley side had failed to score. It was also the Hoops’ first home league defeat since Pat Fenlon’s departure in July. The loss leaves Rovers in fourth place five points behind Derry City who are directly above them in the table – although the Hoops do have two games in hand on the Candystripes.

“We’re confident going into tomorrow’s game,” said Bradley speaking to shamrockrovers.ie ahead of this Dublin derby. “We created a host of chances during Tuesday’s game (against Derry).

“I am disappointed that we didn’t get more out of it, but we didn’t play as well as we have been playing the last few weeks. But, the one positive thing is we created a lot of chances so you got to be confident going into tomorrow’s game.”

Rovers face the Saints for the fourth time this season and it is their 40^th competitive game against the Saints in the Tallaght era. “I’d rather be playing two games a week rather than being out there on the training pitch. “I know that as player like, when you win games you just want the games to keep coming.

“When you lose it’s the same, you want the next game to come to basically show you’re better than the last result. I know the lads would rather be out there playing matches than listening to me on the training pitch, that’s for sure.”

For more on Sami Ristila’s appointment with the Hoops, see Ristila new role at Rovers.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
The Saints are nine points behind Shamrock Rovers coming into Friday’s games in sixth place in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division. If they are to harbour any further ambitions of catching Rovers and making it into Europe, they really need to take all three points from Tallaght.

The last time they played in the venue they emerged victorious with a 3-1 win over Rovers in the EA Sports Cup semi-final. Pat’s came from behind that night with Darren Dennehy, Jamie McGrath (see here) and Christy Fagan scoring the goals.

St. Pat’s boss Liam Buckley will have to do without goalscorer Fagan for the fixture on Friday due to suspension. Meanwhile Sean Hoare will also miss the match as he is on duty with the Ireland under 21 team. Buckley’s team were defeated at home against another neighbour last week losing 1-0 to Bohemians so they will be looking to bounce back against the Hoops.

“After last week’s defeat, we’ve another tough Dublin Derby against Shamrock Rovers,” said Buckley speaking to stpatsfc.com.

“All the games between the sides this season have been close affairs, and I expect Friday to be no different.

“Rovers have been going well under Stephen Bradley so again it should be a good game for the neutrals to see.”

Referee: Neil Doyle.

MATCH STATS
In the last 13 league meetings between the teams only one match has finished level.

Referee Ray Matthews flourished 12 yellow cards (eight for Rovers) on Tuesday night against Derry City – the most in any game played at Tallaght Stadium.

The last time the two sides met in league action was in the opening month of the season. St. Pat’s earned all three points in the 2-0 win thanks to goals from Billy Dennehy and Christy Fagan. Dennehy made 96 league appearances for Rovers, scoring 18 goals, across a three season spell starting in 2010.

BETTING
Shamrock Rovers 11/10; Draw 21/10; St. Patrick’s Athletic 5/2.

PREDICTION
2-1 Rovers win

Shamrock Rovers  

Injured: Luke Byrne, Evan Osam.

Doubtful: Sean Heaney.

Suspended: None.

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Unavailable: Sean Hoare (on Ireland under 21 duty).

Suspended: Christy Fagan.