League Preview: Limerick - v - Sligo Rovers

LIMERICK

Limerick will look to get their league campaign back on track following a two week hiatus as Shamrock Rovers’ European commitments caused their game to now be moved to 15 August. This Saturday evening they welcome Sligo Rovers to the Markets Field for the 6.30pm kick off.

 

The Shannonsiders will feel hard done after losing 3-1 last time out to Galway and dropping a two goal lead to St. Pat’s in their last home match. Manager Neil McDonald is hoping his side can pull out a top performance when Sligo come to Shannonside.

 

Speaking to Limerick’s official website he stated “It’s a good game for us to play. We’re going to try to have three undefeated games at home. We’re going to try to score goals to win the game. We’ve been working on it in training and I expect the players to implement that on Saturday.

 

“Training has been good since I’ve been here. We’re all disappointed that we got beaten by Galway. It was a good chance for us to move up the table but we didn’t take it. We’ve worked hard following that and we’ve concentrated fully.

 

“We’ve had a couple of friendly games in between. Hopefully, the preparation has been good, we’re ready and we give our top performance because that’s what we have to do – we have to have our top performance to win the football match.



 

“We showed even going behind that we can come back against Charlton, even though it was a pre-season friendly for Charlton, but it was a good preparation game for us. We’re looking forward to our next challenge and that challenge is Sligo.”

 

The Super Blues will be boosted by the news that they have a fully fit squad for the game with new addition Hebry Cameron expected to make his debut after the New Zealand international winger completed his move from Blackpool.

 

SLIGO ROVERS



 

With Sligo now in the relegation zone following Galway’s win against Drogheda and St Pats comeback against Bray, Rovers travel to the Markets Field on Saturday hoping to claw back their spot outside of the bottom three - a victory is needed to put them outside of the drop zone.

 

Winless on the road this season and coming off the back of a 1-1 draw with Drogheda and a heavy 4-0 defeat to Derry, Ger Lyttle will hope to get a badly need win to keep his side in good spirits for the rest of the campaign and avoid the drop at the end of the season.

 

“I don’t believe players respond too well to that sort of pressure so it’s not something I’ll be reminding them of. Rather, I’ll be using it as a challenge to them, to go out and put an end to this long run without an away win. And I firmly believe we can do it. It would be unthinkable to go through a full season without winning away from home.

 

“Looking at some stats during the week I discovered we’re the sixth best team in terms of home wins but we have the worst away record in the league. That has to change

 

“It’s something I’m working on and trying to find out why it’s happening. It’s not a new thing, because the away form last season wasn’t great either. So it’s something we have to sort out.”

 

Like Limerick, Rovers have a full strength squad to choose from as Lyttle has also added plenty depth to the team with newcomers Rhys McCabe, Benny Igiehon, Seamus Sharkey all impressing in their early performances with some new players expected to join the squad soon as he stated to the Sligo Rovers Official Website.

 

 

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

 

 

MATCH STATS

Limerick enjoyed a 5-1 win over Sligo when the sides last met in the Markets Field on the opening day of the season. Rodrigo Tosi managed a hat trick that day which was his debut in the League of Ireland and has impressed since.

 

Sligo had one of their best performance of the season when they faced Limerick at the Showgrounds in May as they won 3-0, they now sit tenth in the league with results not going in their favour as of late.

 

Limerick: last five league games LWDLW

 

Sligo Rovers: last five league games DLWLD

 

BETTING

Limerick 21/20; Draw 5/2; Sligo Rovers 5/2.

 

PREDICTION

Limerick 2-1 Sligo Rovers

 

Limerick

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None