We have a full complement of fixtures in the Ireland Premier Division this week and on Saturday 27th July St Patrick’s Athletic host Dundalk FC at Richmond Park, Dublin.
This is a massive game for both teams but for different reasons. St Patrick’s Athletic are looking to stay in contention for a Europa League place and that means finishing at least 3rd in the table. They are currently in 5th place, 8 points adrift of third.
Dundalk FC are going for the title and they are top of the Ireland Premier Division. They have a 5 point lead over second place Shamrock Rovers with a game in hand.
St Patrick’s Athletic come into this match having lost 3-0 away from home to Bohemians last weekend. That loss followed elimination from the Europa League at the qualifying stage to Norrkoping of Sweden. St Patrick’s Athletic lost both legs of the tie and sandwiched between the two was a 4-0 defeat to Chelsea in a friendly.
Form in the Irish Premier Division has seen three wins in their last five games, but only one of those wins has come at home. St Patrick’s Athletic have won two of their last six home league matches, both of which were 1-0 over Derry City and Finn Harps.
Trends show under 2.5 goals have been scored in eight of their last eleven league games and St Patrick’s Athletic have failed to score more than a single goal in each of their last six home Ireland Premier Division matches.
Dundalk FC played in the second round of Champions League qualifying on Wednesday night and were held to a 1-1 draw at home by Qarabag. They made the worst possible start by conceding an early away goal but battled back well to equalise ahead of the second leg.
That result means Dundalk FC remain unbeaten in their last nineteen games in all competitions and they are in very good form. They have won fourteen of those games inside 90 minutes.
Form in the Ireland Premier Division shows Dundalk FC are unbeaten in their last fifteen matches, winning eight of their last nine. However, they were held to a 2-2 draw last time out away to Derry City.
Trends show Dundalk FC have been winning at half-time and full-time in four of their last six away league games.
Looking ahead to the team news and St Patrick’s Athletic could have every player fit and available. They did not have a fixture in mid-week, which will help their preparations.
Dundalk FC could be without Stephen Folan and Jordan Flores for this game, the latter of which is suffering from a hip injury.
St Patrick’s Athletic will not roll over easily but they have been struggling to score more than a single goal at home. They could find it tough to break down Dundalk’s defence and the away team could come away with a win and a clean sheet.