St Pat’s hoping to rediscover consistency
By Daire Walsh
ST PATRICK’S Athletic are aiming to register consecutive victories in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division for the first time since August 13 when they take on Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium tomorrow night (kick-off 7.45pm).
When Stephen O’Donnell’s men followed up a 4-1 success over Dundalk with a 2-1 triumph over Waterford a little over two months ago, they found themselves level at the summit of the table with reigning champions Shamrock Rovers.
Three defeats in four games subsequently saw them losing ground on the Hoops, who simultaneously rediscovered their best form during the same period.
Despite Rovers’ defeat at the hands of Vinny Perth’s Dundalk on the road last Friday, the Inchicore side are nine points adrift in the race for the title with just seven games left to play.
Nevertheless, the Saints are odds-on favourites to at least claim a runners-up spot, which would be their best finish in the Premier Division since they last claimed the title in 2013.
Due to underage international call-ups for their would-be opponents Bohemians, Pat’s were left idle last weekend.
However, they will be in a buoyant mood as a consequence of their dramatic win against Drogheda United at the start of this month.
Seemingly heading for a scoreless draw at Head In The Game Park, the visitors ultimately secured all three points with a goal from Alfie Lewis deep into added time.
As has been noted on many occasions in recent weeks, Shamrock Rovers are the only team Pat’s have not beaten in the league this year.
Either side of a 2-2 draw with Derry in The Brandywell on May 24, they have had the measure of Ruaidhri Higgins’ charges at Richmond Park.
Five different players have been on the scoresheet for Pat’s in their games against the northerners to date and O’Donnell will be hopeful their variety of goal-getters can give them an edge in the fourth and final meeting between the two teams in 2021.