League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Longford Town

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

St Patrick’s Athletic welcome Longford Town to Richmond Park on Friday evening as they look to maintain their unbeaten start to the 2021 season (kick-off at 5.45pm).

The Saints come into the game after seeing off Finn Harps by two goals to nil last weekend.

The Athletic have not played Longford in the league since August 2016, and they won that game in 2016 thanks to a Mark Timlin free-kick.

“They lost to Waterford at the weekend, drew with Finn Harps midweek and then the previous week they ran Shamrock Rovers close, they probably should have gotten a draw out of it after being level in the 93rd minute so it's going to be a very tough test,” Saints boss Stephen O’Donnell told his club’s media team.

“We've seen already that no team can take any team for granted. It's a really competitive league and everyone is taking points off each other so we need to treat Longford with the utmost respect.

“They've been knocking on the door the last few years in the First Division and got up to the Premier.

“Daire Doyle has a settled squad there, they know each other well, they bring a lot of energy to the game and we are going to have to match that to have any chance of winning so our full focus will be on Longford and we roll into another busy period with a game on Monday, and a game again on Saturday.”

In terms of team news for the hosts, Cian Kelly is expected to remain out injured while Jason McClelland is a doubt.

LONGFORD TOWN

Longford Town will be hoping to bring an end to a winless run stretching seven games when they visit St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday evening.

The Red and Black fell to a dismal defeat last time out against ten-man Waterford at the RSC, with Prince Mutswunguma capitalising on a laboured pass from Joe Gorman.

Kyle Ferguson saw red for the Blues in the second half but Longford could not force the issue enough as Kevin Sheedy’s side earned their first win of the season.

The result followed Longford’s scoreless draw at home to Finn Harps earlier in the week, a result that brought an end to their three-game losing streak at the time.

However, Longford will be buoyed from their last outing in the capital away to Shamrock Rovers – where they only lost by a goal in injury time.

In terms of team news for De Town, both Callum Warfield and Aaron McNally are expected to remain out along with Dean Zambra.

Dean Byrne may feature after making his return from injury last weekend in Waterford.

Referee: Ray Matthews.

MATCH STATS

Longford Town are winless since their opening league game of the season – and have picked up just a point since their 2-2 draw away to Bohemians in March.

St Patrick’s Athletic are unbeaten so far in the Premier Division this season – and have conceded just three league goals so far this season.

On Longford Town’s last visit to Richmond Park, they won promotion to the top-flight – relegating the Saints’ arch-rivals Shelbourne with a 1-0 win in Inchicore.

BETTING

St Patrick’s Athletic 1/3; Draw 10/3; Longford Town 8/1.

PREDICTION

St Patrick’s Athletic 2 - 1 Longford Town

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Cian Kelly.

Doubtful: Jason McClelland.

Suspended: None.

Longford Town

Injured: Dean Zambra, Aaron McNally, Callum Warfield.

Doubtful: Dean Byrne.

Suspended: None.