19.45 31 Jul 2015 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Galway United
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Jul 30 2015
ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC
St Pat’s will be looking to build on their recent positive run of form when they welcome Tommy Dunne’s Galway United to Richmond Park on Friday night.
The Saints have won their last eight games, a blistering form guide that has seen the Inchicore outfit close the gap on second placed Cork to five points and on top of the table Dundalk to 11 points.
However, despite the confidence in the Pat’s dressing room manager Liam Buckley is wary of the threat that the Tribesmen will pose on Friday night.
"They've picked up a few great results this season and are unlucky not to be a little higher in the table,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com.
“We'd a good win last week and I was happy with how we played, but we still have things to work on so we know we have to concentrate on Friday and take it from there," added Buckley.
The Saints are set to welcome Shane McEleney into the squad after he joined from Derry City during the week, while midfielder Ian Morris could make his competitive home debut after coming on as a first half substitute during last week’s 3-0 win over Sligo Rovers
However, star striker Christy Fagan will miss the game as he continues to recover from a knee problem; midfielder Greg Bolger will miss out through suspension; while centre halves Jason McGuinness and Sean Hoare will both face late fitness tests.
GALWAY UNITED
Galway boss Tommy Dunne will be hoping his squad can bounce back against the Saints on Friday night after a disappointing 1-0 defeat at home to Bray Wanderers last Friday night.
A stoppage time own-goal from Samuel Oji gave the Sea siders the three points and although there was an argument for off-side in the awarding of the goal, Dunne remains adamant that the result was unacceptable.
"Losing to Bray Wanderers isn't good enough, it's as simple as that," Dunne said.
The tribesmen face one of their most challenging matches of the season on Friday night in Dublin and Dunne understands that he needs an improvement from last week’s performance.
"Now we've got the hard tasking of facing St. Pats away, who have won their last six league games in-a-row,” the United boss explained.
“It won't be easy, but I expect a big improvement in the level of our performance,” he added.
In team news, Dunne will be without Ryan Connolly who has an ankle problem, Enda Curran is out with a hamstring injury, Andy O’Connell will miss the trip to Dublin; while both Marc Ludden and Conor Barry are struggling with respective ankle and thigh injuries and will be assessed closer to kick-off.
"We'll be going to Richmond Park minus some important players and we'll have a depleted squad but we know we've got to scrap and work for every point in this league,” Dunne concluded.
Referee: Robert Harvey
MATCH STATS
United travel to Inchicore looking to extend their unbeaten run on the road to four games after wins against Limerick and Longford and a draw against Connaught rivals Sligo Rovers in recent months.
St Pat’s’ last domestic defeat came against table-toppers Dundalk in a 2-0 loss at Richmond Park back in May.
Brendan Clarke will be looking to record his fourth clean-sheet in a row on Friday night after helping the Saints to clean sheets against Sligo, Drogheda and Longford in recent weeks.
BETTING
St Patrick’s Athletic 1/4; Draw 4/1; Galway United 10/1.
PREDICTION
St Patrick’s Athletic 2-0 Galway United
St Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: Christy Fagan.
Doubtful: Sean Hoare, Jason McGuinness.
Suspended: Greg Bolger.
Galway United
Injured: Ryan Connolly, Enda Curran, Andy O’Connell.
Doubtful: Marc Ludden,Conor Barry.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …