Preview: University College Dublin vs. St Patrick's Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

The home side are currently rock bottom of the table, nine points behind ninth-placed Cork City, while St Patrick's are fourth, boasting 29 points from their 18 league games this season.

Match preview

UCD only just avoided relegation from the top flight last season, finishing ninth in the table, which saw them qualify for the relegation playoffs, but they ultimately beat Waterford in the final to retain their status in the top division.

The Students are facing the prospect of being immediately relegated for next season, though, as they currently sit rock bottom of the table, boasting just six points from their opening 17 matches.

UCD have only won once in the league, which came at home to Cork City in the middle of April, while they have lost their last five during a poor run of form.

Andy Myler's side will enter this match off the back of a 3-1 loss at Drogheda United, and they have a very busy start to June, facing Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers in quick succession after this match.

UCD have actually lost each of their last five league games against St Patrick's Athletic, while they have not managed to overcome Friday's opponents in the top flight since October 2011.

The visitors, meanwhile, will enter this match off the back of a 2-1 victory over Dundalk, and the Saints are currently in excellent form, winning four of their last five league games.

St Patrick's Athletic lost three straight matches against Shamrock Rovers, Derry City and Sligo Rovers between April 21 and May 1, but they have responded impressively to pick up 12 points from their last five game, including a 1-0 success over Shelbourne in their last fixture on the road.

The Athletic are currently fourth in the table, three points ahead of fifth-placed Dundalk and just one point behind third-placed Bohemians in the race for European qualification.

Jon Daly's side finished fourth in the League of Ireland Premier Division last season, which saw them qualify for the Europa Conference League second qualifying round, but they were beaten by CSKA Sofia in the third qualifying round after overcoming Mura.

St Patrick's Athletic have struggled for consistency on their travels this season, winning four, drawing one and losing four of their nine games away from their own supporters.

University College Dublin League of Ireland Premier form:

D

L

L

L

L

L

St Patrick's Athletic League of Ireland Premier form:

L

W

W

L

W

W

Team News

UCD will be without the services of Jack Keaney, who picked up a milestone yellow card in the loss at Drogheda United last time out, so there will have to be at least one change to the starting side.

Ryan Bowden could benefit from Keaney's absence to start, but head coach Myler is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack for this contest.

Left-back Adam Wells is UCD's joint-leading goalscorer in all competitions this season with two, which is an indication of the team's issues, and the 20-year-old will again be in the starting side for this match.

St Patrick's Athletic, meanwhile, will again be missing Joe Redmond and Daniel Rogers through injury.

The visitors will also be unable to call upon Jake Mulraney, who was sent off against Dundalk last time out, which should open the door for Thomas Lonergan to start.

Head coach Daly will also be sweating on the fitness of Axel Sjoberg, who had to be replaced in just the seventh minute of the team's last match, and the 23-year-old is not expected to be involved on Friday.

University College Dublin possible starting lineup:

Moore; Bowden, O'Brien, Osam; Higgins, Keane, Behan, Nolan, Wells; Doyle, Norris

St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup:

Lyness; McGrath, Grivosti, Curtis, Breslin; Murphy, Lennon, Forrester; Lonergan, E Doyle, M Doyle

We say: University College Dublin 0-2 St Patrick's Athletic

UCD are a difficult team to back at the moment, and it is tough to know where their next victory is coming from. St Patrick's will head into this match in excellent form, on the other hand, and we are expecting them to be too strong for their opponents in this contest.

Previews by email