LOI preview: Early pressure on managers

It's matchday five in the League of Ireland yet we already have a game with pressure on managers to deliver a result in as Dundalk travel to Richmond Park.

St Pat's lost 12 matches last season, yet only finished 10 points off top. Manager Jon Daly’s record is hugely impressive helped also by the FAI Cup run.

Nevertheless, a fourth loss in five would be a disastrous start for the Saints as they were aiming to improve their league showing.

That 10-point gap would be established after less than a month of the season if results don’t go their way here.

For Dundalk, their home record reads seven goals conceded and none scored. The fact the matches were against sides tipped to be in the relegation mix makes it all the more concerning.

Stephen O’Donnell has had to be creative in the transfer market. The reality of not shopping in the higher end of the league is hitting home for the Lilywhites with a mixture of Scottish and England permanent and loan signings along with a few remaining stalwarts of their glory days.

O’Donnell’s position could soon come under the spotlight with new owner Brian Ainscough in situ at Oriel.

The capitulation against Sligo Rovers was extremely worrying, with the manager admitting it was an embarrassing night.

It will be interesting to see if they stick with their respective goalkeepers after nightmare showings on Monday.

Marcelo Pitaluga (Liverpool, on loan at St Pat’s) and George Shelvey (Nottingham Forest, permanent signing for Dundalk) arrived on these shores with the expectation they would raise the standard of goalkeeping in the league.

However they struggled massively on Monday. Shelvey is rated as an injury doubt for O’Donnell’s side.

Elsewhere high-flying Shelbourne will look to maintain their superb