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

St Patrick's Athletic F.C.

St Pat’s will be hoping to close the gap on Derry to four points with a win, when they host the Candystripes on Friday at Richmond Park.

The Saints are fresh from victories over UCD and Finn Harps last week and will be looking to make it three wins on the bounce.

Striker Eoin Doyle seems to have hit form as he bagged both goals in the victory over Harps on Friday.

Manager Tim Clancy spoke to the St Pat's media team ahead of Friday night, and expects a tough battle with the league leaders.

"It's a big game and another important one for us at home. We're hoping to get a win. We took a lot of positives from our win over Finn Harps last Friday, there is still room for improvement, but keeping a clean sheet and scoring twice was important."

"We'll be looking to take the momentum of that win and the victory at UCD last Monday into Friday night against Derry and hopefully we'll get a win."

Derry City

Derry go into Friday night top of the league but with the knowledge that Shamrock Rovers are hot on their heels just one points behind.

Despite a convincing win against UCD in their last game The Candystripes form has faltered in recent weeks, with a loss to Shelbourne and draw to Drogheda United prior to that.



Forward Matty Smith is returning to Inchicore for the first time since leaving Pats for Derry.

He spoke to the Derry Journal in the lead up to the game and refleted on his time at Richmond Park.

“I enjoyed myself at Pat’s last season," he said.

"There are some great people there, player-wise and coaches that are still there that I would know. I had a great time last season, but I would love to get a goal against them even though I’d probably get a bit of stick from a few fans, but that’s football.”

“They’ve done very well so far this season. They had a good game against us, and Patch (Will Patching) scored a late winner but I thought they did very well so it should be a good game.

We play very good football and so do they. It’s two very good attacking teams and hopefully there’s a lot of goals in the game. I think it will be a good watch for the fans.”



Referee: Rob Hennessey

MATCH STATS

The sides have already met this season at the Ryan McBride Brandywell in with the home team taking all three points. Will Patching opened the scoring before Saints defender Tom Grivosti pulled one back. Before Patching’s strike in the 92nd minute broke Dublin hearts.

The last match up between the teams in Richmond Park was in July 2021, Chris Forrester’s first half goal the difference on the night.

Derry - fresh from a 7-1 drubbing of UCD- are the league’s top scorers so far with 24. While Tim Clancy’s men boast the joint-best defence along with Shamrock Rovers having conceded just 8 in 12. 

The Foylesider’s also possess the division’s top two marksmen. Striker Jamie McGonigle leads the way with 7 while Patching has 6.

BETTING

Home; 9/5 Draw; 21/1; Away 7/5

PREDICTION

St Patrick's Athletic 1– 1 Derry City

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Jamie Lennon (foot), Adam Murphy (hamstring)

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Derry City

Injured: Michael Duffy, Ciaron Harkin

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Suspended: None

 

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