Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

CORK CITY

Having already conceding six goals in two games since returning from the mid-season break, things don’t get any easier for Cork City as they entertain Sligo Rovers at Turners Cross on Friday evening.

Cork have struggled for consistency all season and they go into this game with particularly woeful run of form in the League with just one win from their last eight games.

Dan Murray, Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy, Colin Healy, Brian Lenihan and Danny Morrissey are all ruled through injury while Daryl Kavanagh and Gearoid Morrissey are rated as doubtful. Ciaran Kilduff is available for selection following after signing on loan from Shamrock Rovers earlier this week.

Speaking to corkcityfc.ie, Cork boss Tommy Dunne has urged his side put in the extra effort and get back to playing more constructive football.

“In full flow, Sligo are as a good a team as you will get in this league. They have quality in the centre of the pitch, they are strong right down the middle of the park and they are also good from set pieces.”

“For us, trying to pick up a result is the single most important thing and we have to get back to trying to play more constructive football. It really is a case of trying to work that extra bit harder to try and get ourselves into the game and into contention to get a result.”

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers will be looking to make it three away wins in the space of seven days when they take on Cork City tomorrow.

Since returning from the break, The Bit O’ Red have already recorded victories over Shelbourne and Limerick in the League and EA Sports Cup respectively and a win tomorrow would move them to within a point of League leaders St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Raffaele Cretaro (hamstring), Danny Ventre (knee) and Aaron Greene (foot) are still out through injury while Pascal Millien is away on International duty with Haiti. Anthony Elding returns from a four match suspension.

Rovers are also boosted by the addition of David McMillan to the squad. The 24-year-old striker, who scored twice against Cork for UCD last week, is available for selection after signing on Wednesday.

Ian Baraclough spoke to sligorovers.com ahead of the game about his side’s recent form, Cork City and David McMillan.

"Every game is a different game for us. Each one that comes along presents a new challenge and there will be a siege mentality by Cork if you like to try not to concede, to try to keep us out and test us. That is what we have to overcome and we are travelling in a really positive frame of mind.

“The onus is on us. We went through a bad patch of results. I maintained that we were playing well at times in those games without finding the right finish or making a breakthrough in front of goal. We have come through that now as we were always going to do and it has brought us even closer as a group and determined to achieve as much as we can.

"When I spoke to Tommy at the launch of the league this season, he was excited about what lay ahead. Consistency and a lack of goals has been a problem and this week he has tried to address it with the signing of Ciaran Kilduff from Shamrock Rovers. At home they will be a tough proposition. They have let themselves down at times but they will be hurting and try to come out and show they are capable of.

"We have added David McMillan and players are starting to return so it gives us very good choices. Everyone wants to be in the starting team. Everyone that misses out wants to be the player to make that impact if called upon and the growth in competition will only make us stronger."

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

Cork City are looking for their first win over Sligo Rovers since July 2009 when they won 3-0 at The Showgrounds.

Rovers have won just two of their last nine games in Turners Cross.

Daryl Horgan is the only player in the two squads to have played with both teams.

BETTING

Cork City 4/1; Draw 13/5; Sligo Rovers 4/6.

PREDICTION

Cork City 0-3 Sligo Rovers.

Cork City

Injured: Dan Murray, Kevin Murray, Darren Dennehy, Colin Healy, Brian Lenihan, Danny Morrissey.
Doubtful: Daryl Kavanagh, Gearoid Morrissey.
Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Raffaele Cretaro (hamstring), Danny Ventre (knee), Aaron Greene (foot).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.