- Patrick O'Connor
- Fri, Mar 10 2023
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
St Patrick’s Athletic are one point ahead of last year’s champions Shamrock Rovers after four series of games in the 2023 Premier Division. However it’s unlikely to be of much comfort to them as they occupy eighth place in the league table on four points, one place and a point ahead of their Dublin rivals.
Their poor start to the season was brought home to them last weekend when they picked up no points, conceded seven goals and only scored once in the Friday/Monday set of fixtures.
The 5-0 drubbing at the hands of Dundalk in Oriel Park on Friday night was followed by a 2-1 loss away to Sligo Rovers on Monday. The latter result was all the more painful a defeat as the Bit O’ Red played all but the first 20 minutes of the match with only 10 men.
Tim Clancy wielded the axe after the drubbing against Dundalk with five changes to his starting line-up, including the benching of Chris Forrester, but it did not have the desired effect as the home side took a 32nd minute lead through Reece Hutchinson. Forrester was introduced as a substitute at half time, along with Jake Mulraney, and he had an immediate impact with an unstoppable shot to the net in the 60th minute.
Sligo Rovers got the winner in the 67th minute however through Fabrice Hartmann and Clancy was less than impressed with his defence when he spoke to LOI TV after the game. He said: “It's not good enough. It's criminal the goals you're conceding. First half against 11 we were probably more comfortable than against 10. But 70 minutes down to 10 men and losing the game is not good enough."
He added: “We got back in it with a brilliant solo effort from Chris Forrester. Then the defending for their second goal was mind-boggling. We were getting momentum in the game to go on and get the winner.
"To concede a second goal the way we did, it was a great finish by the kid but the time and space he got from a free-kick was baffling."
Looking ahead to this Friday night game, Clancy said “we are looking for a good reaction on Friday night. We know if we get a result tomorrow night, and given all the results elsewhere, we are back onto a positive run again.
"We have a sold out Richmond Park for the game so it’s a good opportunity to get the fans back enjoying their football again and a good result against Bohs goes a long way to that.”
BOHEMIANS
Three wins out of four played has made it an almost perfect start to his managerial career at Bohemians for former Derry City boss Declan Devine.
Devine has managed an overhaul of the squad during the close season and his new recruits have certainly contributed to the vibrant start to 2023 and have helped to propel them to second place on the table, only one point behind leaders Derry City.
They continued their early season good form with an impressive 3-1 away win at Drogheda United at Weavers Park last Monday night.
Jordan Flores added to his two goals scored against Cork City and Dundalk by opening the scoring for them in Drogheda, and although they conceded an equaliser shortly after, further goals from Ali Coote and James Akintunde sealed the three points for them.
Devine is very happy with the progress his squad have made this year and when he spoke to The Irish Sun this week he said: “This side is still a work in progress, despite our promising start. There are certain aspects we have to improve on. We are only together as a group 11 weeks but three wins out of four, we will take that.”
Looking ahead to Friday night’s game, he said: “Pat’s have some seriously talented players. They are very capable, especially in front of a packed home crowd. We have got to be up for that. We have to be ready to meet that challenge head on. We have to make sure we defend properly and that we attack with purpose.
“I know that the players are all itching to play. They are really looking forward to this game, and they are really looking forward to Sunday’s game against Crumlin (Leinster Senior Cup) too as they all just want to play.
“They are loving the games at the minute and are showing real intensity in our play, with the exception of the first period against Shelbourne.
“But I believe we have the capabilities of moving up the gears. We have trained well this week and we have made sure the boys are right because we need to up our performances again to win at a difficult venue.”
Referee: Neil Doyle
MATCH STATS
Bohemians won the corresponding first fixture in the 2022 season but St Patrick’s Athletic scored nine goals and accumulated nine points in the three remaining matches - winning 3-0, 3-1 and 3-1 again in the last clash in Richmond Park in October.
Serge Atakayi, Mark Doyle and Tunde Owolabi (since departed to Cork City) scored for St Pats in that final game of 2022 with James Clarke, still with Bohs this season, scoring their consolation goal.
BETTING
St Patrick’s Athletic 11/10; Draw 23/10; Bohemians 11/5
PREDICTION
St Patrick’s Athletic 2 - 1 Bohemians
St Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: Adam Murphy, Harry Brockbank, Danny Rogers
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None
Bohemians
Injured: None
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Dylan Connolly
