Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the Irish Premier Division match.
Waterford currently occupy the same seventh place they finished in last season, while St. Patrick's Athletic are aiming to return to the medal positions they achieved in the 2024 campaign.
St. Patrick's Athletic
The target is within reach: the gap to both second and third place is just two points. However, St. Patrick's Athletic have played one game more due to their 24th-round fixture being rescheduled. That additional match brought no benefit, as St. Patrick's Athletic suffered a heavy 0:4 defeat away to one of their direct rivals, Shamrock Rovers. It was their heaviest defeat of the season. That said, the match was played on the road – such setbacks can happen away from home. Performances at home have told a different story: St. Patrick's Athletic are the only club in the league yet to lose on their own turf this season, with five wins and three draws from eight home fixtures.
Waterford
Waterford trail the medal-chasing pack by four points, although they still have a game in hand. They have experienced a period of managerial instability, and the upcoming match against St. Patrick's Athletic will be overseen by their third head coach of the season. Keith Long, who had been at the helm for two years, was dismissed on 19 April following a run of six straight defeats that saw the team drop from first to eighth in the standings. Matt Lawlor briefly served as caretaker manager before John Coleman was appointed on a permanent basis. Under the guidance of the 62-year-old coach, the squad secured a 1:0 win over newly promoted Galway United, followed by a 1:3 defeat to current league leaders Shamrock Rovers.
St. Patrick's Athletic vs Waterford Prediction
St. Patrick's Athletic come into this fixture as clear favourites, buoyed by their unbeaten home record. Earlier this year, they also managed to beat Waterford away (2:1), so we are backing the hosts to take all three points once again.
