Setanta Cup Preview - Crusaders v Sligo Rovers

CRUSADERS

Irish League side Crusaders welcome Sligo Rovers to Seaview tonight (Monday) where they will face each other in the first leg of their Setanta Sports Cup quarter-final tie.

The club revealed on their official website that they will go into this game with “a few injuries”, but only named Colin Coates and Chris Morrow as undergoing fitness tests.

Crusaders last faced The Bit O’Red in in 2012, beating them 3-2 on aggregate on the way to triumph over Derry City in the Final of this competition.

SLIGO ROVERS

Tonight’s Setanta Sports Cup quarter-final first leg provides Sligo Rovers with their first competitive game of the season.

The FAI Cup holders will be without Gavin Peers and Kieran Djilali due to injury, while Danny North is rated as doubtful.

Paul O’Conor, Danny Ledwith, Eric Odhiambo and Kalen Spillane could all make their debuts for Rovers while John Russell and Richard Brush could make their first appearances since returning to the club. Recent loan signing Sean Maguire is awaiting clearance in order to play in this game.

Speaking to sligorovers.com, manager Ian Baraclough hopes to bring an end to his side’s barren spell in the competition.

“It is great for us at this time of year as part of our preparation to go and play against technically good players and you also have to be able to combat a physical threat which we have to be ready for.

“It would be nice to progress in this competition. I’m not sure how much you can say you are All-Ireland champions if you win it but that is what the competition stands for.

“It’s a good competition. I’ve enjoyed being part of it and to go and win it would be great for this football club.”

Referee: Raymond Crangle.

MATCH STATS

The only previous meeting between both clubs in this competition came at the Semi-Finals stage in 2012. Crusaders won 2-0 at Seaview before Sligo Rovers forced the tie to Extra-Time in The Showgrounds. Colin Coates scored the decisive goal to send Crues the Final on a 3-2 aggregate where they would beat Derry City to become only the second Irish league side to win the Cup.

Rovers have yet to reach the Final of the tournament and have reached the Semi-Finals each year since 2010.

The Bit O’Red 8-0 aggregate victory over Glentoran in last season’s Quarter-Final is the largest winning margin in the history of the competition.

BETTING

Crusaders 14/5; Draw 23/10; Sligo Rovers 19/20.

PREDICTION

Should Crusaders rest a number of players as expected, it is hard to look past the away side taking a victory back to The Showgrounds. 2-0 Sligo Rovers.

Crusaders Injury News: Colin Coates, Chris Morrow (doubtful).

Crusaders Suspension News: No suspensions.

Sligo Rovers Injury: Gavin Peers, Kieran Djilali; Danny North (doubtful)

Sligo Rovers Suspension News: No suspensions.