League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Wexford Youths

St Patrick’s Athletic

St Patrick’s Athletic welcome Wexford Youths to Richmond Park for their first ever league meeting on Friday night.

 

St Pat’s have managed four wins from their opening seven games so far this season, including a 2-1 win away to Finn Harps on Monday last with goals coming from Sean Hoare and Mark Timlin.

 

While the Saints have a 100 per cent win record on the road this season with three wins from three so far, their home form has left a lot to be desired with a win, one draw and two defeats coming at Richmond Park.

 

Christy Fagan, the recent recipient of the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers Association of Ireland Player of the Month for March, has been formidable for the Saints so far this season. He leads the top scorers list alongside Rory Patterson of Derry City with five goals and while he couldn’t get his name on the scoresheet in his 150th appearance for St Pat’s against Finn Harps, he is expected to once again lead the line as a lone striker and will certainly be eager to add to his impressive tally against the Youths.

 

Speaking to stpatsfc.com, Fagan spoke of his delight at his own start to the season but expects a difficult challenge from  Shane Keegan’s side.



 

‘‘I'm very happy with my own start to the season personally, getting a couple of goals and also picking up an award on top of that is a good thing about my performances on a personal level.

 

‘‘Like most games, once we get it right, we fancy ourselves to have a chance of winning. We wouldn't look too much into Wexford's results. By all accounts they've been doing well and been unlucky in a few games. We know they'll come to Richmond Park and try to take the three points so we'll be prepared for another tough game.’’

 

Also speaking to stpatsfc.com, Buckley also admitted that Wexford will prove a stern test for his side.



 

“We're expecting a tough game on Friday,” Buckley said

 

“Wexford got a tremendous result in Cork last week so we know they'll be coming to Richmond Park with some confidence and they've acquitted themselves well so far this season.

 

“They really impressed when winning the First Division last season so we know we'll be really tested on Friday.

 

"However I thought the lads really fought hard on Monday to get the win against Harps, and that was really pleasing to see. We've tried to recover as best we can since Monday, and prepare as best as we can for Wexford in order to hopefully get another three points," the Saints boss concluded.

 

Conor O’Malley is set to miss out once again with an ankle injury while captain Ger O’Brien is a doubt as he faces a late fitness test on an ankle problem.

 

 

Wexford Youths

Wexford are certainly beginning to find their feet in the top division. After only taking a point from their first five games despite impressive performances, they claimed their first-ever Premier Division win defeating Bray Wanderers 2-0 which was followed up last week with an excellent point against title hopefuls Cork City at Turners Cross.

 

Wexford now seek their first ever away win in the Premier Division as they travel to Richmond sitting in 9th place, a point ahead of bottom three Sligo Rovers, Bray Wanderers and Longford Town.

 

Shane Keegan, speaking to wexfordyouthsfc.ie, says he’s been happy to see his team put points on the board but still feels there is room for improvement in his side’s performances.

 

‘‘In the first couple of games we were performing very well but coming away without points whereas in the last two games we probably haven't actually been as good but yet have taken 4 points!

 

“The challenge now is to combine the two, big performances with picking up points.’’

 

Keegan feels that his young squad are beginning to pick up confidence and are eagerly anticipating the clash with Pat’s.

 

‘‘You can perform all you want but it's picking up points that really gives players confidence.

 

“You can see by our lads in training all week that they actually really fancy their chances tomorrow night.

 

“I took a finishing practise last night and they had the net bulging! They know it will be a very tough game but their really looking forward to it.’’

 

Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins and Aidan Keenan remain on the sidelines while Johnny Bonner could return to the side after his recovery from an eye injury.

 

Referee: Robert Harvey

 

 

MATCH STATS

While this is the first league meeting between the sides, they have met once before in a competitive capacity, in 2008 when the Saints eliminated Wexford from the FAI Cup thanks to a Mark Quigley strike and a brace from John Murphy.

 

The last time St Pat’s faced a team for the first time in the league was way back in 1988 when they defeated Cobh Ramblers 3-0.

 

After failing to score in their opening two games of the season, Wexford have scored in every game since with a total of eight goals in the last five games.

 

 

 

BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 8/13; Draw 27/10; Wexford Youths 9/2.

 

PREDICTION

St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 Wexford Youths

 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Conor O’Malley.

Doubtful: Ger O’Brien.

Suspended: None.

 

Wexford Youths

Injured: Shane Dunne, Peter Higgins, Aidan Keenan.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

    About Harry Manning

    Love of League of Ireland football began when the once-mighty Sporting Fingal FC came to be in 2008 and started playing their games not too far from where I grew up.

    ‘‘A former … View Full Profile