St Pat's attacking woes have been compounded by an additional two-match ban for star striker Mikey Drennan.
The Saints prop up the scoring charts across both divisions with just three goals in their seven league games - and Drennan has bagged them all.
But Mirror Sport has learned that he will miss upcoming games against Cork City and Derry City after serving an automatic suspension against Dundalk tonight.
Drennan was booked in last Friday’s derby defeat away to Bohemians but was then shown a straight red for dissent.
In February, the FAI said it was adopting a new zero tolerance approach in an attempt to protect match officials.
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At its EGM, it was agreed that players who use “foul, insulting or abusive language” towards an official could be slapped with at least three games.
It is understood that Rob Rogers - who replaced the listed Ben Connolly as referee at Dalymount Park - referenced aggressive behaviour on Drennan’s part in his report.
Managers and captains of all clubs were briefed on the new changes before the start of the season and yesterday St Pat’s accepted as much.
Among the other sanctions approved at that FAI EGM were 12-game bans for players or managers who “deliberately place a hand on or brush against” a match official.
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