RTÉ Sport preview of the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division tonight
An eventful week in the League of Ireland brings another round of games with the highlight being manager-less St Patrick's Athletic making the short journey to Tallaght to take on Shamrock Rovers.
Behind the scenes the Saints are trying to find Jon Daly’s replacement having opted to part ways on Tuesday.
New signings have not settled well with Ruairi Keating not finding the target as much as last season with Cork City as well as injury halting any momentum he was trying to build.
With a large squad at his disposal, Daly ran out of time in trying to form a regularly-winning side.
The league remains wide open so all is far from lost. Sean O’Connor takes charge tonight as Pat’s look to inflict back-to-back home defeats on the champions.
Monday’s loss to Waterford was a major shock for the Hoops – the biggest since Drogheda United overturned them last year.
On that occasion Stephen Bradley’s team responded with a long unbeaten run and it would not be a surprise if that happened again.
Alan Reynolds comes up against his former colleague Ruaidhri Higgins when Bohemians travel to take on Derry City in the Ryan McBride Brandywell.
The honeymoon period is over for Reynolds as he spoke of likely changes to his squad after losing to Galway United on Monday.
Stephen O’Donnell will join him in the dugout for the first time since coming on board as assistant.
That position in Derry was filled by Reynolds during the FAI Cup success so he will know plenty about the Candystripes.
Derry were dejected at conceding late to Shelbourne having been just minutes away from topping the league.
Shels remain in that position ahead of their clash with Drogheda United.
Damien Duff hailed his players for the result and performance after Sean Boyd’s late goal.
United will also be high on confidence after a memorable Louth derby success.
Hayden Cann’s dramatic winner led to great celebrations and they will be keen to back it up.
There is a huge game for Dundalk when they face the best-performing team of last weekend Waterford.
The Blues claimed wins in Sligo and Tallaght to leap up the table. They’ll see tonight’s game as a chance to stretch even further clear of that automatic relegation place the Lilywhites occupy.
Finally Galway United welcome Sligo Rovers to Eamonn Deacy Park for the first time in seven seasons.
A huge crowd is expected with United riding high in fourth place. Max Mata will play his final game with the Bit O’ Red as his loan spell expires and will be keen to sign off with a goal.
Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic, Tallaght Stadium, 7.45pm
Stephen Bradley has not come down too strongly on his players after Monday's loss
Stephen Bradley said it was "a game too far" when his injury-hit team lost on Monday.
Refusing to be too critical, he is pleased to see a long injury list begin to decrease.
Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia came off the bench again on Monday.
Graham Burke and Darragh Burns will be available tonight with Dylan Watts, Rory Gaffney and Aaron McEneff set to return next week.
Lee Grace and Gary O'Neill remain on the sidelines but Bradley has said the situation is looking good for them.
Speaking about being beaten by Waterford, Bradley said: "You have to understand these players have been incredible during this period of time. We’ve had a lot of games and a stretched squad, but they’ve been really good and have stepped up.
"But Monday looked like a game too far for us. We can’t fault their effort or desire to get something out of the game. We were just off our levels and to be fair to Waterford, they were very good."
The sides around the Hoops have not take advantage of their patchy form and they remain primed to go for a fifth title in succession.
Bradley will be keen to get back to winning ways, knowing the Saints could bounce back after their manager was moved on last Tuesday.
"I think Pat's showed over in Inchicore when we played there, while we controlled the majority of the game, they punished us in the second half.
"We know they’ve got attacking players like Waterford that can really hurt you if you switch off. So we need to be switched on and respect what they have in the attacking part of the pitch, because what they have is really good.
"What this group have been brilliant at throughout the years is reflecting quickly and moving on. That doesn’t change whether we win, lose or draw.
"We understand what happened on Monday, we know where we went wrong, why we went wrong, so when you have real clarity like that, it’s very easy to move on. It’s just about refocussing now, it’s another Dublin derby, should be a good crowd and it’s one we’re looking forward to."
Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond, Ryan McLaughlin and Axel Sjoberg are all set to miss the game for Pat’s with injury.
Shelbourne v Drogheda United, Tolka Park, 7.45pm
Shelbourne welcome Drogheda United to Tolka Park
Damien Duff feels Shelbourne hit a new height this week as they look to return to winning ways against Drogheda.
They will be looking to make it back-to-back home wins, having defeated St Pats 1-0 in their last game at Tolka Park.
That remains their only three points from the last eight matches, however.
The draw in Derry certainly did please the Shels boss.
"Last-minute goals are always nice, whether it's a win or a draw. The draw felt very deserved. We’ve won there before when Derry have dominated, and we’ve snatched it. This was a better performance. You could say we potentially deserved more from that game. We kept the ball for so long and were comfortable for large spells.
"The eyes don’t lie, and stats back it up. It was as good a performance as any away team will put in up there. It’s a big learning point for us, a big factor for players to have more belief. Playing against a big team, massive names and dominating the game.
"It’s a big point in a top-of-the-table clash. Going away to a top team and dominating is something we haven’t done before but it means nothing if you don’t back it up now on Friday, that’s what we need to do."
The teams played out an exciting 2-2 draw last month and Duff is wary of another difficult night.
"They’re mad games, us and Drogheda, they’ve been packed with a lot of drama and we know how tough it can be. I watched the game against Rovers in Tallaght; yeah Rovers pulled away, but whether it’s home or away, it’s a really difficult game against Drogheda.
"They have a lot of players who know the league better than me, they’ve been around the block. Hard side, full of belief, like every game, it’s a tough battle and we need to be ready for that.
"Games have been tight, just a goal in it. We all know their mentality, honest as the day is long and the lads never give in. That’s our mentality, closing out games, we do that by trying to score goals."
Shane Griffin is nearing a return, he will be the only absentee for the home side.
United will have a change in goal as Jethren Barr serves a suspension. Andrew Wogan previously occupied the number one shirt.
Waterford v Dundalk, RSC, 7.45pm
Waterford's victory away to Shamrock Rovers was the surprise result of the season so far
Waterford hold the best away record in the division so they may not be overly happy at being back in the RSC tonight.
But spirits are high after picking up six points in the double-header as Dundalk come to town.
Fourteen out of their 19 points have come on the road.
Finding a good run at home could make it a very successful return to the top flight for the Blues.
Barry Baggley is still a number of weeks away from featuring due to a back problem. Ryan Burke (knee) is a doubt.
Harvey Macadam is available after missing last Friday's trip to Sligo, along with Kacper Skwierczyński who is available for selection having missed the last few weeks through injury.
Keith Long said: "We want to build consistency and ensure our performance levels are of a high standard every week. We are at home and want to be positive in our approach to the game.
"Dundalk are a very capable team with some really good players. We have prepared as best we can after Monday's game and are looking forward to the challenge that Dundalk will provide us."
Ross Munro will take over in goal for the visitors following the 10-match ban for George Shelvey yesterday.
Zak Bradshaw returns after missing the Louth derby with Drogheda United due to suspension. Ciaran McGuckin, Dara Keane and Robbie Mahon are injured.
New boss Noel King is refusing to panic after all results went against Dundalk on Monday.
He said: "There’s still 22 matches to go and if we had won against Drogheda on Monday, it wouldn’t have saved us; and although we lost, it doesn’t put us down.
"You would have thought we might have been able to see it out for a point at 1-1 but you are not going to go through a season without getting defeated.
"We have experienced players who have to deal with defeats and it’s about how we respond now.
"We’ll get going again and we’ll see how it pans out in Waterford on Friday."
Derry City v Bohemians, Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium, 7.45pm
Derry go looking for a sixth home win of the season
Derry City have the most wins and goals at home in this season's league in an ominous sign for Bohemians as they head north.
City have five victories from their eighth matches on their home patch, with last Monday’s draw with Shelbourne one of the more disappointing outcomes.
The Candystripes have picked up two wins and two draws since defeat against Shamrock Rovers. Only Shelbourne’s late equaliser on Monday night denied the side going top of the table.
With three points separating the top three sides, Ruaidhri Higgins wants to keep their unbeaten run going.
The Derry manager was disappointed with the late equaliser on Monday against the league leaders, but backed his players and their current performances.
"It was disappointing in the manner that it ended, Brian Maher didn’t have a save to make on the night. We controlled most of the game. The players are going to the well and giving everything."
Sadou Diallo returned from injury in that game in a lift for Derry. Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan could feature tonight also.
Bohemians recorded a big win over Derry days after the departure of Declan Devine.
They have taken a point from their last three matches.
Reynolds was far from pleased with his side’s display against Galway with changes to their team likely.
"I have been here six or seven weeks now, and at times people need to have a look at players, I am not trying to throw players under a bus, I will look at myself and reflect but we have to be a lot better than that.
"The good teams, the big teams down the years, they always turn up, Friday-Monday they back it up and produce, it's okay raising yourself for a Dublin derby and then you come in and give that.
"We can't hide away from that, that's nowhere near what I want, we have five to six weeks to get to a window and improve and make things better but I can't fool anyone with that performance."
Galway United v Sligo Rovers, Eamonn Deacy Park, 7.45pm
Galway United and Sligo Rovers will play a first league meeting in the city of the Tribes in seven years
Galway United have struggled to get the better of Sligo Rovers in the last decade.
While the Bit O' Red have maintained their top flight status and even made the top four on a couple of occasion, the Tribesmen have spent a lot of the year in the second tier.
Going into the first meeting of the teams at Eamonn Deacy Park in seven years, they are the ones in fourth thanks to a three-point advantage in the table.
The teams played out a 0-0 draw earlier in the season as United remarkable scoring figures came to the fore.
With eight goals scored and just seven conceded in 14 matches, John Caulfield has created a unique style on their return to the Premier Division.
A five-game winless run ended for Sligo on Monday when they beat St Patrick’s Athletic, decreasing some pressure on John Russell.
Injury problems have played a major factor in recent weeks.
Rovers will again be without John Mahon and Nando Pijanker who continue their rehab on respective Achilles and rib injuries.
Wide men Will Fitzgerald (foot) and Simon Power (groin) are also set to miss out.
There is good news for Russell who welcomes JR Wilson back from suspension. Max Mata will play the final game of his loan spell.
Russell is in an upbeat mood coming into the game: "The players have rested well and it's another quick turnaround to Galway. We know how big of a game this is for both clubs and sets of supporters and I'd imagine we'll have a good crowd heading down there. It's a massive game," he said.
"Galway have surprised a few since they were promoted. They're on a great run of form at the moment so we need to maximise our performance levels to get a result down there.
"This league is so competitive and anyone can beat anyone on their day. We've seen that so many times since the start of the season with teams at the bottom picking up results against those towards the top.
"The win over Pat's was important of course. But it is vital now that we go to Galway and continue to build momentum."
Karl O’Sullivan (suspension) and Aodh Dervin (injury) are out for Galway.
Watch Shamrock Rovers v St Patrick's Athletic in the League of Ireland on Friday from 7.35pm on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player, follow a live blog on rte.ie/sport and the RTÉ News app
