This time last year, Stephen Kenny’s men were about to embark on a European adventure that would not only see them going a tie away from securing league phase football but also put them on a crazy unbeaten run to propel them from midtable mediocrity to title dreamers come the end of the season.
Something similar is going to have to happen this term for this season to be seen as anything other than a dramatic failure for the former Ireland manager’s side. Pats linger in 6th place in the League with the FAI Cup their only realistic opportunity of silverware this season. Their particular campaign in that competition commences on Sunday when they welcome non league UCC to Richmond Park.
Full focus will be on this game though for the Saints as they look to inject some form of positivity into the camp as we head into a crucial stage of the season.
Team News
Vastly experienced Sean Hoare and one of the stars of the show during Pats European run last season, Romal Palmer both miss out through injury. Everyone else available for the Inchicore side.
Pats woes in front of goal
After failing to score more than 2 goals in your last 7 in all competitions with one being a penalty you would imagine that Pats are lacking a creative spark and although Chris Forrester has struggled to stay fit for the majority of the campaign, creating chances hasn’t been a problem for them. It’s been taking them. With the attacking zest they have in Melia, Mulraney, Elbouzedi and Power there is no doubt the quality is there. One would have to imagine it’s a confidence issue.
In the 1st leg last week amidst a heatwave in Dublin, Pats could’ve easily been out of sight and it took an Aidan Keena penalty to give them a lead to take to Lithuania. The difference was in that game they found a way eventually to break their duck in front of goal so while they would’ve been disappointed only to have scored one on the night, I think it might do their confidence the world of good that they eventually managed to find a way to break their duck in front of goal and get the proverbial monkey off their back.
A word on FC Hegelmann
This tie is a slightly different one to many other European ties involving League of Ireland clubs as FC Hegelmann are, like Pats in season at the moment. So there shouldn’t be any advantage in that respect for Pats. Their most recent league game was a 5-2 triumph over Šiauliai. Hegelmann would’ve been fairly content with a narrow 1-0 defeat last week and they did have a threat on the break aswell at Richmond. They will no doubt have to come out more in this game as it goes on.
Prediction: Fc Hegelmann 1-3 St Patrick’s Athletic (1-4)
Stephen Kenny will know that when you’re going through a barron spell in front of goal like his side we’re, it’s all about breaking that duck and Aidan Keena’s penalty last week -on a night where a 3rd consecutive 0-0 stalemate wouldn’t have gone down well with the Richmond faithful- gave them that break they’ve been longing for. On their day, we know Pats are capable of being one of the best if not the best teams in the league so I expect them to rekindle their goal scoring zest in Lithuania. It’s expected to be cooler in Lithuania at the local 19:00 kickoff time than it was in Inchicore last week.
Player to Watch: Simon Power
With Hegelmann expected to have to come out in this second leg there should be more room on the counter attack for Pats than there was in the first leg. If so, Simon Power could have a fruitful evening. He’s scored Pats only goal from open play in their last 8 games with a well taken goal in the 3-1 defeat at Eamonn Deacy Park. He’s been one of the brighter sparks in a dismal last few weeks for the Saints.