Credit:
Bohemians -v- St Patrick's Athletic
- Brendan White
- Tue, Apr 06 2010
Bohemians welcome St Patricks Athletic to Dalymount Park this Tuesday evening for an intriguing top of the table Dublin derby (kick off 7.45pm). Both sides have got off to good starts to the Airtricity Premier Division season and sit first and second respectively ahead of the game.
Bohs lie second in the table, just one point behind St Pats, and with a game in hand. Three consecutive wins at the start of the season against Sporting Fingal, UCD and Drogheda along with last week’s 0-0 draw at home to Sligo Rovers leaves Bohs with ten points from a possible twelve. Bohs have scored seven goals and conceded three.
Bohs go into this game boosted by their Setanta Sports Cup semi-final victory at home to Linfield on Saturday lunch time. Ken Oman and Raf Cretaro scored the goals as Bohs came from behind to grab a 2-1 first leg lead to take to Linfield.
Despite the win, Bohs boss Pat Fenlon was unhappy with his sides start to the game. “We didn’t start the game properly, we just weren’t good enough”, he said.
Fenlon knows an improvement is needed against St Pats. “We need to play better”, Fenlon said. “We need to retain the ball better and we need to work St Pats harder and hopefully we’ll get that.”
Fenlon has a nearly-full squad to choose from, with Steven Gray (ankle) ruled out and Anto Murphy (shoulder) doubtful.
St Patrick’s Athletic have started the season well with wins against Galway United, Shamrock Rovers and UCD along with scoreless draws against Dundalk and Sporting Fingal to leave them top of the Premier Division table with 11 points. St Pats have scored seven goals in their five games and are yet to concede a goal.
Last season saw the sides share 13 goals in the four games between them. Bohs collected nine points from a possible twelve; with 3-0 and 3-1 wins at home along with a 2-0 win away. St Pats won 3-1 in the remaining game in Richmond Park.
Saints boss Pete Mahon has no new injury concerns after Friday night's scoreless draw with Sporting Fingal, and skipper Damian Lynch is likely to return to the squad having recovered from a muscle injury.
Venue: Dalymount Park
Referee: D. McKeon
paddypower.com odds: Bohemians 8/11 Draw 9/4 St Patricks Athletic 4/1
Bohemians
Doubtful: Anto Murphy
Injured: Steven Gray
Suspended: None
St Patricks Athletic
Doubtful: Damian Lynch
Injured: None
Suspended: None
Extratime.ie Prediction: A close game to finish 2-2
About Brendan White
Brendan White is Extratime News Editor and is responsible for the news section of Extratime.ie. Brendan also covers matches in Dublin and Waterford. You can contact Brendan on twitter @whitebrendan.