Preview: Dundalk vs. St Patrick's Athletic - prediction, team news, lineups

Dundalk play host to St Patrick's Athletic on Friday evening with the opportunity to move six points clear of their fourth-placed opponents in the League Of Ireland Premier Division.

However, the visitors, who have played a game more than their hosts, will move into third position if they can win by at least a two-goal margin.

Match preview

On the back of last season's sixth-placed finish, Dundalk would have been hoping for a fast start to the season, but it took until the back end of April for the Lilywhites to really find their stride.

Having won just one of their opening seven fixtures, seven victories have come from the following 10, including their current run of three in a row.

Clean sheets have been few and far between, but the 2-1 success away at second-placed Derry City has helped bring Stephen O'Donnell's team back into title contention.

While the gap to Shamrock Rovers is still eight points, Dundalk are now the form team in the division, even if they were far from convincing against Finn Harps last time out.

A second-half goal from Daniel Kelly proved to be the only goal of the game, the midfielder taking his tally to four for the season and already beating last season's figure.

After winning four of their first six games this campaign, St Patrick's found themselves in early title contention, but it has taken 12 matches to prevail in as many fixtures.

On a positive note, a three-game winless streak was ended last time out as the Saints recorded a 3-0 victory over seventh-placed Bohemians.

Tunde Owolabi netted all three goals during that fixture, a remarkable turn around in form after only scoring once in his previous appearances this campaign.

Boss Tim Clancy will hope that the hat-trick acts as a much-need catalyst, last year's runners-up now within four points of Derry who currently hold that spot.

Team News

Robbie Benson, Mark Connolly and Stephen Bradley could all be drafted back into the Dundalk starting lineup after being rested versus Finn Harps.

Andy Boyle, John Martin and Keith Ward may all drop to the substitutes' bench after being brought into the team last time out.

Barring any injury issues, Clancy will have no reason to make any changes to the St Patrick's XI which performed so impressively against Bohemians.

That would see playmaker Mark Doyle remain on the substitutes' bench alongside Wolverhampton Wanderers loanee Jack Scott.

Dundalk possible starting lineup:

Shepherd; Bone, Connolly, Macari, Leahy; Doyle, Sloggert, Bradley, Benson, Kelly, Hoban

St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup:

Anang; Curtis, Grivosti, Redmond, Bermingham, Breslin; O'Reilly, Forrester, McClelland; Doyle, Owolabi

We say: Dundalk 2-1 St Patrick's Athletic

Given their competitive records this season, this has the potential to be a hard-fought contest, one which could prove pivotal in the race for European qualification. However, we have to back the home side to come through this contest with three points, extending their winning run to four games.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.