League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Wexford Youths

Wexford Youths travel to Richmond Park to take on St. Patrick's Athletic on Friday evening as Shane Keegan's men continue to fight for survival in the Premier Division.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Liam Buckley will be hoping his St. Patrick's Athletic side can make it three wins from three against Wexford Youths this season as they look to improve on current league position before the league campaign concludes at the end of the month.

The Saints currently sit ninth in the Premier Division, with three games in hand on the four teams above them, each of which are within five points of the St. Pat's.

This fixture against Wexford will be the Saints' first of a back-breaking seven games in the next 22 days as they close out the season with a congested fixture list.

Liam Buckley's men are without a win in their last four league games, drawing to Shamrock Rovers and Sligo Rovers, whilst they also suffered defeats to Bohemians and Bray Wanderers. The Saints have scored just one goal in those four league games with their last league win coming away to bottom of the table Longford in August.

They did however, enjoy more success in cup competition in September, beating Cobh Ramblers in the FAI Cup before winning the EA Sports Cup with a 4-1 victory over Limerick in the final. Buckley however, saw St. Pats’ FAI Cup run come to an end with a 3-1 semi-final defeat at home to Cork City last Sunday.

WEXFORD YOUTHS

Youths go into this game in the relegation play-off spot, six points clear of bottom of the table Longford but trailing Finn Harps by five points.

Manager Shane Keegan and his men have five games left to secure survival in the Premier Division. However, that task this week was dealt a massive blow with five players moving to New Zealand.

Danny Ledwith, Conor O'Keefe, Eric Molloy, Andy Mulligan and Stephen Last have all left Youths to move to Southern United in the New Zealand Football Championship, a league which begins at the end of October.

Despite the loss of a number of players and the gap between his side and Finn Harps, Keegan remained optimistic when speaking to the club website.

"There's five games to go and we still believe we can catch Harps," said Keegan. "That said, we are also still very much aware that we need to keep Longford at arm's length too.

"There are 15 points still to be fought for so we are going to approach this and every game with complete focus and confidence.

"There are a few twists and turns to come yet, I'm sure of that. I know a lot of people have us written off already and they're entitled to their opinions. But we're still fighting, I can promise you that."

In team news, forward Aidan Keenan is suspended while defender Gary Delaney remains unavailable due to an ankle injury.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

Both meetings between these sides this season have ended with victories for Pats with the Saints winning 4-0 at home in April and 1-0 away at Ferrycarrig Park back in August.

In the four meetings between these sides, Pats have won all four with Youths scoring just one goal. That came in an FAI Cup tie in 2008.

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 2/5; Draw 10/3; Wexford Youths 15/2.

PREDICTION

St. Patrick’s Athletic 1-0 Wexford Youths.

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Unknown.

Doubtful: Unknown.

Suspended: None.

Wexford Youths

Injured: Gary Delaney (ankle).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Aidan Keenan.