League Preview: St Patrick’s Athletic -v- UCD

• Luke Jordan
• Fri, Jun 30 2023




ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC 

After a brilliant 1-0 home win last Friday against Shelbourne, the Saints dropped points once again in County Louth, conceding a late equaliser to ten-man Dundalk on Monday night. 

Reflecting on the past two games, manager Jon Daly was upbeat despite losing control of a game that was there for the taking with the extra man advantage. 

“Going to Dundalk away from home, and I think the fact we’ve come away feeling disappointed tells us where we are at just now as a group”, said Jon Daly when speaking to the club’s media team. 

Daly continued, “We’re obviously in a good place and we’re expected to win them types of games. Especially the way the game kind of transpired throughout the course of the game. We felt we should have won it. 

“So yeah, disappointment of that but I think if you had of told me we we’re going to get four points from six I probably would have taken that. So, we’re pleased, its two more games unbeaten so it sets us up nicely going into this home game”. 

Since the appointment of the Dubliner as first team manager, the Saints form as been impressive. Ten games, seven wins including a 4-1 hammering of Derry City, one draw and two losses has propelled St. Pats into the European positions with a third successive season of continental football looking increasingly likely. 

The former Rangers player complimented his players stating “The lads have really bought in what we wanted to do. You can see they are playing with a confidence. It’s important we maintain and continue that. 

“We’ve tried to set different standards, as I said the players get a couple more results and they get more belief in themselves that obviously helps”. 

Daly confirmed once again St. Pats will be without captain Joe Redmond who is progressing well after surgery. Axel Sjoberg is at least another week away according to the Saints boss while Harry Brockbank who limped off against Dundalk Monday night is a major doubt. 

Friday’s night game against UCD is another important fixture for the Inchicore side. Daly was quick to fire warning towards his players stating that this will not be an easy game, especially with the visitors buoyed after defeating Sligo Rovers last weekend. 

“There always a difficult opponent” said the Pats manager. “They have got good energy in the team. They have some very good players, so again it’s important. They’re coming off the back of a fantastic win at home to Sligo. 

“They’ll be in good spirits, and they’ll be confident coming into the game so it’s important we bring the same levels of energy we’ve brought to the last number of games, the same tempo. 

“I think if we play slow against them, it will give them encouragement, so we have to start fast against them and make sure again, the last few times we’ve played them we’ve got goals early doors in the first half which has helped so that’s important also”. 

UCD

The Students come into this match on the back of their best win of the season. Second half goals from Samuel Clarke and Jake Doyle sealed a 2-1 victory against Sligo Rovers, which was only UCD's second win of the whole campaign. 

UCD are 12 points cut adrift of ninth place Cork City and would need to string wins together if they were to have any chance of surviving this season. 

They have faced the Supersaints twice this season already, and on both occasions conceded three goals in each game. 

Andy Myler will be without Mikey Raggett, Lennon Gill, Mark Dignam for the game in Richmond Park Friday night. 

Referee: Neil Doyle

PREDICTION 

St Patrick's Athletic 3-0 UCD

St. Patrick’s Athletic 

Injured: Tom Grisvosti, Joe Redmond, Axel Sjoberg

Doubtful: Harry Brockbank

Suspended: None. 

UCD

Injured: Mikey Raggett, Lennon Gill, Mark Dignam

Doubtful: None. 

Suspended: None.

Rebecca Creagh: “I’m very proud of Katie McCabe and I’m buzzing to see how she gets on in a few weeks’ time” https://t.co/ZNwGTBaDaDpic.twitter.com/pChbMyxEM5

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 29, 2023