League Preview: Waterford -v- St Patrick's Athletic

• Dave Donnelly
• Fri, Jul 05 2019




WATERFORD

Waterford will look to get their first win since the midseason break when welcome St Patrick’s Athletic to the RSC on Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm).

History is on the Blues’ side as they’ve beaten the Saints in both their meetings this season but manager Alan Reynolds will take nothing for granted.

Proof positive of the need for caution was provided seven days ago when Michael Barker’s goal in injury time denied Waterford a hard-earned point at home to Bohemians.

Monday night’s trip to Dundalk was even less forgiving as the Blues fell behind to a Kenny Browne own goal inside two minutes and went on to lose 3-0.

The visit of Pats offers the chance to get back on the bus, but they’ll have to do so without experienced defender Damien Delaney, who announced his retirement on Thursday.

“Last Friday was a tough result to take against Bohs here at the RSC,” Reynolds told the club’s official website.

“It was a good performance so to lose in the last minute was tough to take. Monday’s game was a more difficult one.

“Credit to the players they had to work very hard against a Dundalk side who were just better on the night.

“We’ve had two good performances against St Pats this season already and we need that again.

“We’ve won both the games so far but that counts for nothing on Friday; we need to bring a high level of performance to the pitch and get our momentum moving forward.”

New signing Sam Bone misses out with injury, as does Ireland under-21 winger Zack Elbouzedi, while Browne, Karolis Chvedukas and Bastien Hery are doubtful.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St Patrick’s Athletic are on the road once more on Friday night with a trip to the sunny south-east in prospect for Harry Kenny’s side.

They’ll do so on the back of a home defeat after they were comfortably beaten 2-0 by Shamrock Rovers on Monday, their third defeat to the Hoops this season.

The visitors will be anxious not to offer up another treble to Friday night’s opponents, particularly considering the Blues have four games in hand on the Saints.

Good news is that Dave Webster is ready to return from a spell out with injury, but defender Ciaran Kelly and midfielder Conor Clifford are doubts.

Referee: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

The sides have met twice so far this season and it’s been one-way traffic as far as the Saints are concerned, with Waterford winning by an aggregate of 5-0.

The first meeting at the RSC in March finished 2-0 to the Blues as Aaron Drinan found the net once in either half.

May’s return game at Richmond Park proved even more one-sided as goals from Izzy Akinade, Zack Elbouzedi and Drinan sealed a 3-0 win.

Worryingly for Alan Reynolds, Akinade and Drinan have since left the club while Elbouzedi is currently sidelined with a shoulder injury sustained on international duty.

BETTING

Waterford 2/1; Draw 2/1; St Patrick’s Athletic 7/5.

PREDICTION

Waterford 1 – 1 St Patrick’s Athletic

Waterford

Injured: Sam Bone, Zack Elbouzedi.

Doubtful: Kenny Browne, Karolis Chvedukas, Bastien Hery.

Suspended: None.

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Conor Clifford, Ciaran Kelly.

Suspended: None.