League Preview: Derry City -v- Sligo Rovers

• Shaun Keenan
• Sat, Jul 08 2017




DERRY CITY

Kenny Shiels will hope his young side will be able to put their European experience behind them and focus on retrieving third spot, starting with the visit of Sligo Rovers to Maginn Park on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 2.30pm).

 

The Derry City boss said he believed his side was 'hung out to dry' in their Europa League defeat by not been able to field any of the players bought by the club last month. FC Midtjylland crushed the Brandywell side 10-2 on aggregate over the two legs.

 

June signings Darren Cole, Jamie McIntyre, and Eoin Toal will now finally be eligible to play after the transfer window opened for professionals at the start of the month.

 

The Candystripes have been without Barry McNamee and Conor McDermott for their last two games, but McNamee is expected to be fit for tomorrow afternoon's clash.

 

Aaron Barry also missed Thursday's game against Midtjylland with a suspected hamstring injury and could be out for a number of weeks.

 

Derry's last two league games haven't gone to plan either. Bray Wanderers and Cork City snatched all three points against The Candystripes in what were very tight affairs.

 

Those defeats put Derry City five points behind Bray Wanderers in third spot with two games in hand over the Seagulls.

 

Tomorrow's game won't be an easy one for City but they are sure to be riled up after a humiliating defeat in Europe.

 

 

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit o' Red come to Buncrana on a high after they saw off Shamrock Rovers last week despite having ten men for the final 30 minutes.

 

Gerard Lyttle should have new signing Rhys McCabe at his disposal for tomorrow but striker Benny Igiehon is still awaiting international clearance.

 

Lyttle needs every man he can get at the minute after Keiran Sadlier departed for Cork City and Liam Martin left the club by mutual consent this week.

 

Rovers are currently one point outside the relegation zone and a win against a deflated Derry side would be a big boost for their survival this campaign.

 

The Derry City faithful will be expecting a win but Lyttle and his team could spoil the redemption party if they get their tactics right.

 

However, looking at the away form of Sligo Rovers there aren't many reasons to be confident of them getting a win at Maginn Park.

 

Sligo Rovers hasn't won away from home all season and Gerard Lyttle knows this is something they need to fix if they are to stay up this year.

 

"It's important. We're focusing on trying to make the Showgrounds a hard place to come and I think we have done that.

 

"The next level is to get three points away from home. There is no reason why we can't. We need to focus on winning games. It'll be the same mentality and mindset as the Shamrock Rovers game.

 

"We have come off the back of beating an in-form team. That will give us confidence. We have players out but we have players coming back in as well.

 

"Kyle comes back into the squad. It will give us good strength. Seamus Sharkey was super on his debut so it gives me a real headache in terms of picking the team."

 

 

Referee: Paul Tuite

 

 

MATCH STATS

Sligo Rovers have collected eight points against Derry in their last five meetings.

 

The pair drew their first game at The Showgrounds earlier this year.

 

Derry City have retrieved 17 points from a possible 30 this season.

 

 

 

BETTING

Derry City 5/8; Draw 14/5; Sligo Rovers 9/2.

 

PREDICTION

Derry City 3 - 1 Sligo Rovers

 

 

Derry City

Injured: Conor McDermott; Aaron Barry

Doubtful: Barry McNamee

Suspended: None.

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: John Russell