LOI team news: Hoops look to restore six-point lead

St Pat’s Athletic v Shamrock Rovers, 5pm, Watch LOI

A Dublin derby by the banks of the Camac, with Shamrock Rovers aiming to make it eight wins from eight. Pat’s, already out of the FAI Cup, will no doubt be looking at claiming a European spot to make their season worthwhile.

There is talk that the Hoops are capable of winning all their remaining matches. The way they dug out the three points away to Derry last weekend bodes well for similar examinations that lie ahead and the first of those could well be against a Pat’s outfit who no longer want to be viewed as a soft touch. 

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Team news

St Pat’s Athletic: Pat’s have a fully fit squad to pick from. 

Shamrock Rovers: Seán Kavanagh and Greg Bolger remain on the injured list,

Gaffer talk:

Stephen O’Donnell (St Pat’s manager): “Shamrock Rovers will be delighted with the start they have had in the league, and will be happy with their form both pre and post COVID.  It’s a Dublin derby with two of the biggest clubs going head to head, albeit  it will be a bit strange with no supporters at it. 

“But that said there will be enough of an intensity between the players for it to be a good game and one we are really looking forward to.”You want to play against the best teams and best players in the league, and Rovers have some of the best players and at this moment in time are the best team in the league.  But we have good players in our own right and we’re eagerly awaiting the game and looking forward to it.” 

Stephen Bradley (Shamrock Rovers manager): “I think we’ll see the best St Pat’s that there is. I think we’ll see the St Pats’s that we saw against Dundalk and we’ve got to respect that and be ready for that. We’ll go there full of confidence, expecting a really tough game but we’ll go there to win it.

“Obviously the spaces can be tighter at Richmond depending on where you want to play in different areas of the pitch. You have to use the space cleverly and your positioning has to be clever but you don’t prepare any differently. The only ones you do prepare differently for are probably Derry and