General
- Monday May 6th, 2013 @ 19:10
Saints Look To Continue Unbeaten Run
St Pat's travel to Drogheda United in what is their second away game in four days as they look to extend their seven game unbeaten run in the league in United Park.
Fifth placed Drogheda go into Monday's game on the back of a 2-2 home draw with Bohemians which saw them pegged back by the Dubliners having taken the lead twice in the game.
By contrast, the Saints will be in good spirits following a fine 2-0 win in Turner's Cross thanks to goals from Anto Flood and John Russell.
Games between the Boynesiders and the Saints were close affairs all last season with Mick Cooke's men being one of only three sides to leave Richmond Park with three points, while the Saints managed to edge Drogheda in United Park in an FAI Cup quarter-final replay on penalties.
In the most recent clash between the sides back in March, midfielder Shane McFaul came off the bench to score the only goal of the game on the opening night of the Airtricity League season to give Liam Buckley's side the points.
Speaking ahead of the Drogheda game, Buckley admits that he is expecting a tight game with very little separating the sides over the 90 minutes.
“Every game in the league is always a challenge, but going up to Drogheda will be very difficult as Mick has done a great job in his time with Drogheda,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com.
“He's got them to the Setanta Cup final this year and their form has been good lately so we'll need to play well again to get a result there.
Games between both sides have been really tight over the past 18 months or so and I'd expect it to be no different on Monday.”
In team news, Buckley reports that he has a full squad to select from, meaning that both Shane McFaul and Christy Fagan are in line for their 50th appearance for the Saints in all competitions.
The game could also see Saints' midfielder Killian Brennan line-up against his local side and brother Gavin Brennan.
For defender Ian Bermingham, the Saints' win in Cork was a result that was most pleasing as they look to extend their current unbeaten league run and continue to close the gap on the league's top two sides.
“Yeah Friday was a great win for us and a few results went our way too so it was a good night. It was another clean sheet, we got two goals so we were really delighted with the performance,” the 24 year old told stpatsfc.com.
“But the games are coming thick and fast and Drogheda is a massive game for us. We have a good squad here so if someone has to come in, they can do a good job.
If we win on Monday, it keeps us ticking along nicely and hopefully put a bit of pressure on the teams ahead of us. We haven't been beaten in seven games now so we're just looking to keep this run and momentum going."
