St Patrick's Athletic face a critical Friday night fixture against Waterford at Richmond Park with a chance to tighten the Premier Division title race. A victory would move Stephen Kenny's side to within a single point of leaders Shamrock Rovers, who are not in action until Sunday.
According to a league preview reported by www.google.com, the Saints enter this match in strong form, sitting second in the table with 50 points from 28 games. Their recent record shows five consecutive wins, including a 2-0 victory over Drogheda United last week. The team has scored 45 goals while conceding only 23 this season, giving them a solid +22 goal difference.
Can St Patrick's Athletic maintain their momentum?
Stephen Kenny's men have been one of the league's most consistent sides recently, suffering just one defeat in their last nine outings across all competitions. Their confidence will be high following a morale-boosting Cup win against the very Shamrock Rovers team they are chasing. The last meeting between these two sides saw St Patrick's Athletic run out 4-1 winners, a match that was Graham Coughlan's first in charge of Waterford. Kenny acknowledged the challenge ahead, saying: "Waterford are the form team, they've played very well. All credit to them, they've done really well and they'll be tough opponents."
What challenge does Waterford present?
Waterford arrive in Inchicore on an impressive seven-game unbeaten run, with only two losses in their last fifteen matches. They held Sligo Rovers to a 0-0 draw at The Showgrounds last time out, where summer loanee Blair McKenzie made his debut from the bench. Manager Graham Coughlan is looking forward to the test, stating: "We're looking forward to the game against St. Pats." The visitors will be without injured duo Will Johnson and Sam Glenfield.
How does the rest of the league look this weekend?
The weekend's other fixtures could also influence the standings. Third-placed Bohemians host bottom side Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park. Sligo are in dire straits, without a league win since May and six points from safety in eighth place. They have failed to win in their last ten games, though new manager Darren Purse has overseen three draws and one defeat in his four league matches. The squad has injury concerns, with Jeannot Esua missing the last game, Ollie Denham substituted at half-time with a knee issue, and Conor Reynolds and Jad Hakiki also unavailable.
Meanwhile, a mid-table clash sees Shelbourne welcome Galway United to Tolka Park. Galway are undefeated in their last five league games, picking up two wins, and are celebrating their 1500th league match. Shelbourne, managed by John Russell, have a game in hand but recently lost to both Waterford and St Patrick's Athletic before drawing 2-2 with Ajax in a friendly. This is their first league fixture in three weeks.
What comes next for the Saints?
Friday's result at Richmond Park will set the tone for a massive period in St Patrick's Athletic's season. With the gap to Shamrock Rovers currently at four points, every match is vital. The team's next assignment is a home fixture against third-placed Bohemians on September 5th, a game that could further define the top of the table. Fans can track the team's progress and check the updated standings as the season reaches its climax. The full run-in, including the crucial clash with Bohemians, is available on our fixtures page.
