St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Shamrock Rovers

• Eoin Manning
• Thu, Nov 05 2009


With Shamrock Rovers’ title ambitions all but over the focus of attention turns to St.Patrick’s Athletic’s relegation battle when the pair square off at Richmond Park on Friday night in the League Of Ireland Premier Division (Kick Off 7:45pm).

With Pat’s desperate for a result which could see them avoid the dreaded relegation play offs they will be going all out for a win though Pat’s will be only too aware that they are also be reliant on results going in their favour elsewhere.

The Saints sit on 40 points as do Sligo Rovers who have a superior goal difference to the Inchicore club, while Galway United have amassed 41 points. However, The Tribesmen have an inferior goals difference to both Pat’s and the Bit‘o’Red so any of the three could conceivably still finish in the remaining play off place.

Achieving victory over the men from Tallaght is an awful lot easier said than done however, given that the Dublin rivals have met on no fewer than four occasions this seasons and the Hoops have prevailed as winners on each and every occasion.

Michael O’Neill’s men can mathematically still win the the league title this year although it is dependent on not only a victory at Richmond Park and Bohemians loosing at Bray but also a 16 goal swing in the Hoops’ favour in the process.

Pete Mahon’s brief when taking the reins at St.Pat’s was to keep his new team in the division and the former UCD boss will be dearly hoping that he manages to do it without enduring the dreaded play offs.

Extratime.ie prediction: St.Pat’s 1 - Rovers 2

Key Man: Declan O’Brien, his goals could save The Saints

Venue: Richmond Park

Last encounters this season:
04/09/09 Shamrock Rovers 1 St.Patrick’s Athletic 0
04/07/09 St.Patrick’s Athletic 1 Shamrock Rovers 2
25/04/09 Shamrock Rovers 2 St Patrick’s Athletic 0

Referee:A. Kelly

paddypower.com odds: St.Pat’s 15/8, Rovers 11/10, Draw: 12/5

St.Patrick’s Athletic
Doubtful: Declan O’Brien (Flu), Dave Partridge (hip), Bobby Ryan (knee) and Mark Quigley (shin splints)
Injured: Gary Dempsey
Suspended: None
Form Guide (league): W L L W D L
Leading Scorer: Declan O’Brien (6)

Shamrock Rovers
Doubtful: Ian Bermingham (Ankle)
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Form Guide (league) D W L W W L
Leading Scorer: Gary Twigg (24)