League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Dundalk

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers welcome The Town to The Showgrounds on Saturday night looking to pick up their second home win of the season.

More importantly, they are looking to bounce back after their shock 1-0 reverse at the Carlisle Grounds last week.

Having started the league well with a win over Athlone Town, despite going a goal down, and blitzing Crusaders both home and away in the Setanta Cup, they have already lost two competitive games this year after going down to St Pat’s in the President’s Cup too.

That will not be good enough for a perfectionist like Ian Baraclough and you can be sure he will be expecting nothing less than all three points against a side who will also be expected to challenge for the championship along with themselves.

However, they struggled somewhat against Dundalk last year by losing 1-0 at the Showgrounds through a Dane Massey wondergoal while also losing 2-0 in August in the north east although they did enjoy a 3-1 success at Oriel Park early in the campaign.

Boss Ian Baraclough is looking to get back to winning ways with an important win, saying: “We haven’t hid away from the defeat last week. It was extremely disappointing and nobody likes losing games. We didn’t defend well enough as we conceded, nor did we create enough chances.

“In some quarters this week we have been accused of lacking passion – it is something I don’t like to be said about any team never mind my own. Our pride was hurt, there was a lot of talking after the game but we can’t change the result now, we can only focus on what we can do on Saturday against Dundalk

“We look at it that now there is another game. We’ve prepared as well as we can this week. We have to be ready for what Dundalk will throw at us and target the three points.”

Sligo will miss the influential Raff Cretaro who has underwent a calf operation and will be out for a number of weeks while Gavin Peers also remains sidelined.

John Russell, Joseph Ndo, Jeff Henderson and Kieran Djilali are among those doubtful for the game but who could feature nonetheless.

DUNDALK

Stephen Kenny demanded a response from his Dundalk side after three successive losses in their opening competitive games of 2014 and they have delivered.

A late success in Coleraine saw them seal their place in the Setanta Cup semi-finals and that was followed up by a crucial 2-1 win at home to Limerick in their first home league game.

Now they will be looking to continue that form further while at the same time crippling a potential title rival in the process when they meet Sligo.

Lilywhites manager Kenny has been impressed with the Bit o’ Red recently but is looking to keep his side’s revival going at the Showgrounds: “Sligo Rovers have been exceptional the past few seasons. They have been very successful in recent times and it will be a tough game for us. They have only lost one match of any consequence at home in the last two years but we are confident going there. We bounced back brilliantly against Coleraine and last week against Limerick so hopefully we can bring that into this weekend.”

For Dundalk, long term absentee Keith Ward remains on the unavailable list while Mark Rossiter will sadly miss his hometown trip after pulling his hamstring in the win over Limerick.

Simon Kelly sits out through suspension following his Louth derby antics at half time.

Referee: David McKeon

MATCH STATS

Dundalk are looking for a third straight win over Sligo for the first time since 1981.

Expect goals. These sides haven’t played out a goalless draw at this venue since a meeting 11 years ago.

This game marks the 100^th meeting of these clubs at The Showgrounds. Sligo have the upper hand, winning 40, drawing 27 and losing 32 times.

BETTING

Sligo 10/11, Draw 9/4, Dundalk 3/1

PREDICTION

Sligo have a number of potentially key absentees and that could hurt them. They are coming off a sore loss whereas Dundalk are finding form, a close away win. Sligo 0-1 Dundalk.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Gavin Peers, Raffaele Cretaro
Doubtful: Jeff Henderson, Joseph Ndo, Kieran Djilali, John Russell
Suspended: None

Dundalk

Injured: Keith Ward, Mark Rossiter
Doubtful: None
Suspended: Simon Kelly.