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

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Jun 02 2017




SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers could move as high as third depending on other results as they welcome St Patrick's Athletic to Tallaght Stadium in the final game before the mid-season break (kick-off 8pm).

 

The Hoops ran out easy 2-0 winners over Bray Wanderers on Tuesday in a game rescheduled to avoid congestion during their Europa League qualifying campaign next month.

 

Early goals from Brandon Miele and Gary Shaw set Rovers on their way to a comfortable win over third-place Bray, which suggests moving the game forward was a shrewd bit of operating.

 

It helped Stephen Bradley's side bounce back from a disappointing 4-1 defeat out in Cork last week, a result the manager felt was harsh on his side.

 

“It's a good result. 2-0 and obviously a clean sheet and I thought we could have had one or two more,” Bradley told reporters after the Bray game.

 

“They're a dangerous side. I think everyone knows that with the pace they've very dangerous. We knew it was going to be a tough game.

 

“The four goals on Friday kind of tell a different story from what it actually was. Three set-pieces obviously, but the game could have been totally different in the second half.

 

“We're disappointed but we knew it wasn't because we were that bad. There was lots of positives to take from last Friday and we sat down and spoke about that coming into tonight.

 

“Even though it was 4-1 and it looks terrible, and you're not happy when you concede four, we knew it wasn't as bad as the scoreline suggested.”

 

Gary Shaw is fit after being taken off against Bray with cramp, while David McAllister is clear to play despite copping an extra two-game ban for his sending-off against Cork.

 

Paul Corry is out with a long-term injury.

 

 

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patrick's Athletic travel to Tallaght knowing they need at least a point to avoid finishing the first half of the season with a share of bottom position.

 

The Saints slid to the bottom on goal difference behind Galway United thanks to a 2-0 defeat at home to Dundalk on Friday and manager Liam Buckley admitted they're in a relegation battle.

 

“I don't want to be the first one to go down with them, and I don't think any of the lads want to either,” Buckley told reporters following the defeat.

 

“There's no club ever too big to go down. Manchester United got relegated and they're one of the biggest clubs on the planet. We're not stupid.

 

“I'm not stupid either. I know the situation. I'm not blind – I can see the league table. It is a concern that we're at the bottom at this stage. 

 

“Normally we'd be fundamentally playing better, and that's why over the window we'll have to have a look at what we can and can't do.

 

“We've just got to look at the next game and see what can we get out of Rovers this week.

 

“It's a tricky game – not a lot between either group – and from our end of it I need us to play fundamentally better in the final third.”

 

Buckley will be without Darren Dennehy for at least another month as he recovers from an ankle injury, while his brother Billy picked up a hamstring injury in training.

 

Referee: Robert Hennessy.

 

 

MATCH STATS

The last time the sides met, in the league in March, Pats ran out 2-1 winners thanks to second-half goals from substitutes Kurtis Byrne and Josh O'Hanlon.

 

Gary Shaw had given the Hoops an early lead before left-back Sean Heaney was sent off for two bookable offences just before half time and the Saints took control.

 

The sides met four times last season: thrice in the league and once in the EA Sports Cup semi-final, which Pats won 3-1 on the way to lifting the trophy.

 

Away teams ruled in the three league fixtures as both sides won 2-0 on the other's patch before the final meeting in Tallaght finished 0-0.

 

 

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 8/13; Draw 11/4; St Patrick's Athletic 9/2.

 

PREDICTION

Shamrock Rovers 3 – 1 St Patrick's Athletic

 

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Paul Corry (knee).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Billy Dennehy (hamstring), Darren Dennehy (ankle).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None