League Preview: UCD -v- St Patrick’s Athletic

Kian Moore in action for UCD

Kian Moore in action for UCD Credit: Paul Dolan (ETPhotos)

UCD

Basement side UCD welcome St Patrick’s Athletic to the Belfield Bowl on Friday night (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Students head into Friday’s clash having lost their last five league games on the trot.

Their last point came against Dublin rivals Bohemians at home – while their only win of the season also arrived at the Bowl against Cork City.

However, Andy Myler’s side have also been hit by the suspension picked up by captain Jack Keaney who is ruled out of Friday’s match against the Athletic though suspension.

The former Sligo Rovers man will serve a one-game ban following an accumulation of yellow cards.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

Jon Daly’s Saints head into their trip to Dublin 4 keen to build on a late and great win over Dundalk last weekend at Richmond Park.

Ten-man St Pat’s – without the services of Jake Mulraney after his red card – remarkably defeated Stephen O’Donnell’s side thanks to Conor Carty’s 78th minute winner.

And that win nudged them further clear of the Lilywhites in the table as the Athletic look to stay in contention with the top two over the coming weeks.



However, that victory came at a brutal cost.

With Mulraney set to serve the first game of a three-match ban on Friday, the Saints were dealt a double blow to Axel Sjoberg and Tom Grivosti.

Sjoberg was forced off in the 10th minute with an injury against Dundalk while Grivosti was taken off in the 25th minute.

Further scans showed that the defender has picked up an ACL tear and will miss the remainder of the season.

He joins Joe Redmond on the treatment table.

Referee: Gavin Colfer.



 

PREDICTION

UCD 0-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

 

UCD

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: Jack Keaney.

 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Axel Sjoberg.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Jake Mulraney.

About Andrew Dempsey

View Full Profile