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

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

It was a sobering experience the last time the St Pat's faced Cork City as the Leesiders knocked them out of the FAI Cup at the semi-final stage at the start of October. The Saints have the chance of a modicum of revenge on Monday evening as they look to dent City’s league title ambitions (kick-off 7.45pm).

Liam Buckley’s men lost 2-1 last Friday away to Bray Wanderers and that defeat has left them in eighth place in the league table. Jamie McGrath gave them a first half lead but two goals from Bray was enough to earn the Seagulls all three points. St. Pat’s missed out on a win also in their previous game, conceding a late goal to Finn Harps.

Speaking to Extratime.ie after the game in Bray, Liam Buckley was unhappy with the goals they conceded.

“We've given two stupid goals away from set plays,” he said. “I felt we deserved at least a draw out of it bearing in mind how the game went, but it wasn't to be and we move on.

“We were disappointed we didn't get a win up in Finn Harps bearing in mind they scored in the 92^nd minute. But to give two stupid goals away from set plays. You have no idea how much work we do on set plays in relation to making sure people are picked up in areas and all that sort of stuff.”

Monday’s match is one of two games in hand that St. Pat’s have on the five teams immediately above them in the table. However, their European ambitions are all but over, as even if they win their remaining four matches that would only leave them level with Shamrock Rovers who already have 51 points and two games remaining. The Saints still must travel to play Cork City and they have both Derry City and Dundalk at home.

Sligo Rovers have a chance to go above the Hoops to 52 points but they need to win both of their remaining games while the Tallaght team must lose at home to Bray and away to Longford Town. The St. Pat’s manager reckons Europe is beyond his team.

“We have a couple of games in hand, albeit it's Cork on Monday and Cork on Friday and Dundalk the following Monday. They're all difficult games, but we'll just have to see it out and see where we get. We're not going to make Europe anyway at this stage, so we'll see where we go.”

The Saints are battling with injury concerns as they missed both Keith Tracey (hamstring) and Jack Bayly (thigh) for last Friday’s defeat to Bray. David Cawley overcame a collarbone injury to play the last ten minutes at the Seaside as a substitute off the bench.

CORK CITY

The Leesiders are looking for another three points on the road on Monday evening against St. Patrick’s Athletic to keep up the pressure on league leaders Dundalk. City bounced back from last week’s loss in Oriel Park to win last time out at home to Finn Harps 2-0.

It leaves the Leesiders four points behind the Lilywhites with four games remaining. While City look for their second win in Richmond Park this month, following their recent FAI Cup 3-1 semi-final success in Inchichore, Dundalk meanwhile on Monday are travelling to Longford to play a Town side who are all but relegated.

“It was nice to get back to winning ways on Friday night, in difficult conditions,” said City boss John Caulfield speaking to CorkCityFC.ie ahead of the trip to Richmond Park. “It is a quick turnaround now and we are back on the road again.

“Pat’s are probably in a situation where the pressure is now off them, but they still have a good squad and we know all about their top players, like Christy Fagan, who caused us problems in the cup. At the same time, we are going there to try and win the game to keep the pressure on.

“I think it will be a different type of game to the cup game. The fact that they can’t qualify for Europe takes the pressure off them, so they can go out and play and have a go.

“It is up to us to go out and get the result. It is a quick turnaround from Friday, so we need to recover properly and go out and play to our potential, which we will need to do if we are to get the three points.”

City’s only loss in their last ten league games was the 2-1 defeat to Dundalk in Oriel Park last week which handed the momentum back to the back-to-back League of Ireland champions.

City will, of course, face Dundalk in November’s FAI Cup Final. The Leesiders still harbor ambitions that Aviva Stadium showdown will be their last hurdle in the hunt for the double.

“While Dundalk are in the driving seat, it would be wrong of us not to push it right to the end. There are 12 points to play for, and we know that we need to keep the pressure up and try to force it to the last week of the season.”

Referee: Ben Connolly.

MATCH STATS

In the head-to-head between the teams in their league encounters in Dublin, the Saints have the edge with 19 wins to City’s 13 while 12 matches have ended level. Overall St. Pat’s have 33 wins, 31 for City, with the remaining 26 league encounters ending draws.

The biggest win for City against St. Pat’s both home and away is 3-0. That has been the scoreline on three occasions in Dublin, the most recent in 2009, and on just one occasion in Turner’s Cross back in 2004.

Christy Fagan is the Saints top scorer with eight league goals while Sean Maguire has 16 in the league for City.

BETTING

St. Pat’s 13/2; Draw 7/2; City 2/5.

PREDICTION

2-1 away win.

St. Pat’s

Injured: None.

Doubtful: David Cawley, Keith Treacy, Jack Bayly, Sean Hoare.

Suspended: None.

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh John Dunleavy, Alan Smith.

Doubtful: Kevin O’Connor, Alan Bennett, Kenny Browne.

Suspended: None.