League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- St Patrick's Athletic

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Off the back of a slender, 1-0 victory over Bohemians last week courtesy of red-hot Graham Burke, Shamrock Rovers are at home again tonight as they welcome St Patrick's Athletic to Tallaght Stadium.

Rovers are still within a fighting chance of five consecutive league titles and a win tonight over Stephen Kenny's Saints will keep their hopes alive.

Having won three of their four last league games, confidence and momentum is with the Dublin 24 outfit. 

Speaking ahead of the derby tonight, Hoops manager Stephen Bradley spoke about the quality we should look out for tonight: "We have the two in-form teams in the country. 

“Pats have some really good players, you look at Jake Mulraney, Mason Melia, Chris Forrester and Zach Elbouzedi, Brandon Kavanagh, all really good players. 

“But we are playing well and it has all the makings to be a really good game. It’s two teams who’ll go to win the game, so that makes for an exciting game.”

After entering the half against Bohemians scoreless last week, boos could be heard from the home crowd, disappointed with what their side produced.

“99% of our fans are incredible and have been. The South Stand is incredible," Bradley said. 

"But a few people in the West Stand need to be very careful, maybe show a little bit more respect to these players and what they’ve done and how they’ve done it. If they want to see a different type of football, Tallaght isn’t the place to go.

"That’s ok, that’s their opinion, but they won’t be seeing that in Tallaght. The booing of our players at half-time or during the game is not welcome, we don’t want it.

"These players have a lot more credit in the bank than that. Success can make people arrogant, we can’t become arrogant.

“We’ve no divine right to show up and win any game, winning is hard but these players have made it look easy for a long time.

"Our fans have been incredible for us, they’re the ones we want watching us every week and supporting us. Some are frustrated when we win, lose or draw, of course and I understand that.

"But they always stayed with the team and that’s what we’re looking for. We’re not looking for the few who want to come and boo if we play a backwards pass.”

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St Pat’s have won 11, drawn nine and lost 11 games this season with only two victories on the road in the league. 

The least they will hope for tonight is to come away from their 2024 league campaign without having lost to Shamrock Rovers in any of their four encounters.

And Saints boss Kenny expressed his thoughts ahead of the derby: “The players have been in terrific form of late. The six European games were of really good quality, the performance levels were very high. We've managed to translate that into our league form, taking 13 points from a possible 15.

“We'll get a real tough test from Shamrock Rovers, who are in a good run of form themselves and are obviously a formidable team in their own stadium, so we're looking forward to the game.

“The support has been terrific behind the players, they've really been getting behind the team. Hopefully we can put in a good performance.

“I think for a team that was struggling to score goals, we've now got goals coming from different areas. We're going to need that threat and we're going to need to be at our best.”

Referee: Robert Harvey.

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 1-1 St Patrick's Athletic

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Trevor Clarke, Rory Gaffney, Aaron McEneff, Seán Hoare

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Romal Palmer, Cian Kavanagh

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Athlone Town can copper-fasten their playoff place on Friday night when they host Cobh Ramblers at Lissywollen

League Preview: Athlone Town -v- Cobh Ramblers - https://t.co/94rjArr8tjhttps://t.co/6UFIUQqZsD

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