St Patrick's Athl. Aim to make it three consecutive Premier Division wins when they visit Sligo Rovers on Saturday evening. The Saints are in excellent form, having won three of their last five matches and keeping two clean sheets in their last three home games.
Their confidence will be high after a dominant 4-0 away victory over Dundalk last weekend. Aidan Keena scored twice in that match, with Ryan Sheridan and Ryan Edmondson also finding the net. That result helped maintain their position in second place in the league, with 56 points from 31 games. They are just three points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers, a side they beat 2-0 at home in their previous fixture.
Recent momentum
Jon Daly's side have shown resilience after a minor dip, bouncing back strongly from a home defeat to Waterford in late August. The recent wins over Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk have solidified their title challenge. Their defensive record this season is a key strength, having conceded only 25 goals, the second-best in the division.
Sligo Rovers present a different challenge, sitting 10th in the table and struggling for results. They have lost their last four league matches, including a 3-1 home defeat to Galway United last time out. Their last victory came in a goalless draw with Waterford in late August. The head-to-head record heavily favours the visitors, with St Patrick's Athl. Unbeaten in the last three meetings. They won the most recent clash 2-0 at Richmond Park in June and thumped Sligo 4-1 at home back in April.
Team news and outlook
St Patrick's Athl. Are expected to field a similar side to the one that performed so well at Dundalk. The 3-1-4-2 system, with Joe Anang in goal and a back three of Joe Redmond, Sam Hoare and Luke Turner, has provided a solid base. Midfielders Jamie Lennon and Zachary Elbouzedi will be key in providing service to forwards Keena and Anthony Olusanya. For the latest squad availability, check our injuries section.
A win at The Showgrounds is vital to keep the pressure on Shamrock Rovers at the top. The Saints' next assignment after this trip is a key home fixture, details of which are on our fixtures list. The team travels north knowing another three points would strengthen their grip on a European qualification spot with seven games of the season remaining.
