St Patrick's Ath -v- Bohemians

• Macdara Ferris
• Fri, Aug 30 2013




ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

The Saints return to league action on Friday following their FAI Cup third round win over Bray last week. With just four home league games remaining in the season, Richmond Park will be buzzing for this Dublin derby (kick off 7.45pm) between the league leaders and Bohemians.

 

The Inchicore side have lost only one league game at home all season and that was back in early April when they went down 2-1 to Dundalk, the team that now sits in second place behind them in the table. Pat’s also have an impressive league run of form against the visitors, as they are unbeaten against Bohemians in their last nine matches. It was October 2010 since the Saints last lost to Bohs. The away team could do with getting a win as they battle with relegation. When the sides last met in Inchicore in the league, Bohs came from behind to earn a 1-1 draw.

 

“It really is a game where both sides need to win it,” said the Saints’ top goalscorer Killian Brennan speaking to stpatsfc.com. Bohs need the points to move up the table and obviously it’s also massive for us as we’re looking to stay top.

 

“As a result of that, it should be a decent game of football. The fact that it’s a Dublin derby as well only adds to the occasion. From our end of things, we need to be clinical and put our chances away as we didn’t do that in the last game against Bohs in Richmond. If we remain focused and do our jobs right, we can hopefully get a goal to go in front and take the points.”

 

Having managed and played in previous games for the Saints against Bohemians, Buckley is no stranger to this particular Dublin derby and he outlined that the importance of the game.

 

“There is huge history behind this fixture against Bohemians and I can remember some fantastic league and cup games between our clubs when we were both competing at the top of the league in the mid 90’s,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com.

 

“This Dublin derby always brings a great crowd to Inchicore so Richmond Park is hopefully going to be packed. We’ll be looking to give our crowd something to shout about and hopefully they’ll get behind the players and we can get the three points.”

 

BOHEMIAN FC

Coming into Friday’s game Bohemians will be buoyed by their 1-0 Dalymount Derby win over Shamrock Rovers in their last league outing and may well be the fresher team having had no FAI cup fixture to fulfill last weekend following their cup loss to Drogheda last May. The win over Rovers last week was just what manager Owen Heary wanted as the victory moved them off the bottom of the table and above both Bray and Shelbourne.

 

“It’s been a long two weeks but the lads are ready to go, and chomping at the bit. They’re up for another big performance like the one they gave against Rovers,” said Bohs boss Owen Heary.

 

“Pat’s is a massive test. They’re top of the table, unbeaten at home for a while. Nobody’s giving us a chance, and that’s the way it has been for the last few games. But all the pressure is on them. They’ve been there before, and they may be starting to get a bit edgy. There’s nothing to say we can’t go there and get a result.

 

The Bohemian manager underlined the whole team's defensive effort that kept Rovers down to very few scoring opportunities. “If we stick to the game plan, hopefully we can restrict Pat’s to minimum chances,” said Heary.

 

Bohs will have to do without the man who earned his side a point on their last visit to Richmond Park, Dave Mulcahy. The player, who was also man-of-the-match against Shamrock Rovers, will miss Friday’s match due to suspension. It means more pressure on young Daniel Byrne who looked well able for it, if the win over the Hoops is anything to go by.

 

“At twenty, there’s a lot of development in him,” said Heary about Byrne. “He has clearly shown he has potential,” said Heary. “I had seen him in under-19 games and I know what he can do. We threw him in at the deep end, which may have helped him, as he didn’t have too long to think about it.”

 

Referee: Alan Kelly. 

 

 

MATCH STATS

Killian Brennan has scored nine goals this season for the Saints, seven in the league, and has a 100% record of seven out of seven from the penalty spot.

 

Friday’s game could see three players reach the landmark 50 appearance mark if Greg Bolger and former Bohemians’ players Chris Forrester and Christy Fagan take to the field of play.

 

Bohs’ win over Rovers in their least match means they are unbeaten against the Hoops in their last five league games having won three of those derbies. The victory though was only the Gypsies second win in the league against any opposition since April.

 

 

BETTING

St. Patrick’s Athletic 4/11; Draw 16/5; Bohemians 8/1.

 

PREDICTION

Home win 2-0.

 

St. Patrick's Athletic

Injured: None.
Doubtful: John Russell.
Suspended: None.

 

Bohemians

Injured: Dave Scully.
Unavailable: Stephen Doran.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.