League Preview: St Patrick’s Athletic -v- Drogheda United

ST. PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

It is the first of seven matches for the Saints this month as they welcome initially Drogheda United to Richmond Park and they will follow that up with a trip west on Bank Holiday Monday to take on Sligo Rovers.

Last time out Jon Daly’s side lost 1-0 to Shelbourne at Tolka Park a result which leaves the Saints in sixth place with 15 points from the 13 Premier Division games they have played this season with a minus two goal difference.

"Our results aren't good enough,” said Daly speaking to his club’s media team. “There's a couple of performances I've been really disappointed with but there's been other games where we've been really good and we not taken opportunities and then been punished for slack defending so we want to marry it all together.

“It's about making sure you're solid defensively, and when the chances come at the other end, you're ruthless and you take them and that's been the biggest problem for us. We haven't taken our chances and we've let in soft goals and goals at set plays which is unlike us.

“Everyone is frustrated and I get that, I share the same frustrations, that's football, and it can change very very quickly. We've got two games this weekend where we can go and put it right and get ourselves back on the coat tails (of the teams above us). 

“Teams have shown in the league, if you put a couple of wins together, all of a sudden you can find yourself at the right end of the table and that's what we need to do, it's as simple as that."

Daly will have to deal without skipper Joe Redmond who is unlikely to play again this month due to injury. However, the positives from last Friday’s game in Tolka Park was the return of Ryan McLaughlin to the team as he made his first league start of the campaign after recovering from a calf issue.

"We've got a lot of games coming up this month, which is a good thing,” said 29-year-old McLaughlin. “Results haven't been great in the last couple of games, and it's good that you have such a quick turnaround to put things right. 

“That starts Friday and Monday, we've two big games coming up, we want two wins out of two. It only takes one win for everyone to start feeling good again. 

“We know what we’ve got in the dressing room, we've got a lot of talent there. We want to be fighting at the top end of the table and that all starts Friday against Drogheda United."

DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders suffered a heavy 4-0 defeat to Shamrock Rovers on Monday night – a result that leaves them in ninth place with 11 points from their dozen games and still in the relegation/promotion play-off.

They are just three points clear of bottom side Dundalk, who they will face at home lunchtime on Monday. 

The loss to Rovers was their heaviest defeat this season (and their worst since Rovers beat them 5-0 last October).

When United faced the Saints earlier in 2024 it was a scoreless stalemate.

The pain of the loss in Tallaght during the week was exacerbated by the sending off of Jack Keaney in the match and that he is suspended for the trip to Dublin 8 after United were unsuccessful in their appeal of the defender’s red card.

As well as missing Keaney, their top goalscorer Evan Wier (with four goals) is missing due to injury.

United have just the two wins this season – away to Sligo Rovers in their last away game and home to Bohs at the start of March.

Referee: Declan Toland

MATCH STATS

It was honours even between the teams when they played each other last season. The Athletic won the first two fixtures (3-1 at Weavers Park in April and 3-0 at Richmond Park in May) with the Boynesiders winning the other two games both by a 2-1 scoreline.

The Athletic have won 66 of their 130 league meetings with the Drogs and have lost 39 times.

As the home side, St. Pat’s have won 33 matches with 19 wins for Drogheda when they have been the ways team. Just 11 matches have been draws.

PREDICTION

2-1 home win

St. Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Joe Redmond

Doubtful: Tom Grivosti, Ruairi Keating, Mason Melia

Suspended: None.

Drogheda United

Injured: Evan Wier

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Jack Keaney