Dundalk V St Patrick's Athletic

  • Mon, Jun 13, 2011 @ 8:54

Dundalk will be keen to make amends for their defeat in the Louth derby when they host St Patrick's Athletic at Oriel Park, kick-off 7.45pm.

Friday's 2-1 loss to Drogheda United was the first home defeat of the season for Ian Foster's side, with the manager criticising his players' 'complacent' attitude.

For midfielder Greg Bolger and his team-mates tonight offers a chance to redeem themselves in front of the home fans.

'It's good that we have a game [tonight],' Bolger told Dundalkfc.com. 'We'll be going out to rectify what happened on Friday and to get the three points.

'I know for the fans it will still stay with them, but maybe if we can get the win. then the Drogheda game will be forgotten about.

'If we can get a win and then go into the Bray game next weekend and get the same there, you never know, we might shoot up the table again.

'But it's just disappointing that we lost to Drogheda the way that we did. I think they wanted it more than we did and it probably showed.'

Dundalk will go into the game missing Eoghan Osborne (leg), Stephen Maher (groin), Stephen McDonnell (knee), Jason Byrne (hamstring) and Michael Hector (knee).

Shane Guthrie is on loan from St Pat's, so he is also unavailable, while Dean Bennett (ankle) is a doubt.

This is the first of three successive away games for St Pat's, with further trips to Drogheda and Galway to come.

Boss Pete Mahon will consider resting some players ahead of that tough run of games with several carrying knocks.

Mahon said: 'There are no easy games. Drogheda are coming into form. They beat Dundalk on Friday and that was a great win for them.

'We are facing three away games and we will be looking to get seven points from them to keep us near the top of the table.

'We have a couple of niggly injuries and due to the fact we are playing on a plastic surface, we will have to give it some thought to whether we rest the players.

'The more games we play to the more tired the players become and the less recovery time they have.

'We have done a good job so far managing the players to ensure they get enough rest between games and that the training is right with such little recovery time.'

Conor Kenna (knee) and Derek Pender (foot) will not feature for the visitors.


Next Fixture

Drogheda United / March 29th @ 7:45pm
Competition: League
Venue: Weavers Park
 
Team Pld Pts
Shelbourne616
Derry City611
Sligo Rovers69
Waterford FC68
Galway United FC67
Bohemian FC57
Shamrock Rovers56
St Patrick's Athletic66
Drogheda United54
Dundalk52