Setanta Cup Preview - Sligo Rovers v St. Pats

SLIGO ROVERS

Ahead of their semi-final clash with St Patrick's Athletic, it's not hard to see that all has not been going entirely to plan for Sligo Rovers in the league this season with only three points to show from their first three games.

Of course, it might just be the case that their cup exploits can help them back on their feet once again.

Having thumped Crusaders in each leg of their quarter-final matchups, Ian Baraclough's side have already convincingly flexed their muscles; they came out on top on an aggregate score-line of 9-1. 

And although the league campaign has gotten off to a rocky beginning, the cup could well be the remedy they need.

After all, the Bit O' Red are certainly no strangers to stringing together good results in a cup format as their 2013 FAI Cup triumph will attest to, and they certainly won't fear the arrival of St Pat's to the Showgrounds either.

Of course, while the league will be their main, long-term concern for the season ahead, the recently congested match day schedule is something that Rovers fans and players will relish – there's nothing like a mouth-watering few fixtures to re-jig an out of form team.

And speaking ahead of Tuesday's big showdown, manager Baraclough insinuated as much: “I think it will be a tight affair. It could be cagey - both sides know each other very well. We know it’s a big time in our season. It’s so early in the year but here we are with a Cup semi-final and a match away to Shamrock Rovers in the league on Friday that will be important and we can’t wait to play the games.”

He added: “It is where we want to be, in semi-finals and in contention to win trophies, and the record of the club shows that.”

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

Tuesday will see St Pat's feature in a televised match for the second week running, following their surprise weekend 1-1 draw against a plucky Limerick FC in the Premier Division.

That day, they looked great value for the win, but a lack of concentration and clinical finishing really came back to haunt them, and if they don't learn from those mistakes, they could soon find themselves with a backlog of problems at an important stage of the campaign.

With the games coming thick and fast, it's vital that Liam Buckley resolves these issues quickly and regains some of the effective finishing that saw his side overcome Ballinamallard United so easily on a 6-0 quarter-final, aggregate score-line.

Playing away from home for the first leg is something that could play into the Saints' hands. If they adopt a cautious approach from the get-go and play it safe with a counter-attacking system, they could return to Richmond Park with the tie still in their control.

Then again, it's difficult to envisage Buckley's men being too passive and having the game dictated to them by the hosts.

With this their second game in the space of four days coming so early in the season, don't be surprised if this one is settled by an uncharacteristic lapse in concentration or a misdirected pass going astray to a grateful attacker.

The manager gave his thoughts to the club's official site ahead of the match “It’s our second game in the space of a couple of days so we’ll prepare the lads as best as possible for the game in order that we’ve a strong side on the pitch from the first whistle.

He continued: “It’s a semi-final of a cup competition, so we know we’re only one round away from a cup final, so there’s no doubting it – we want to win.”

Referee: Mervyn Smith

MATCH STATS

Since 2009, Sligo have reached a total of 14 cup semi-finals and it's their fifth successive appearance in the last four of the Setanta Cup – the most any club has ever achieved in the competition.

Rovers striker Danny North comes face-to-face with his old club on Tuesday. Interestingly, during his time with Sligo, North has failed to score against just two clubs. One of them is St Pat's, the other is Bohemians FC.

The last time St Pat's reached the Setanta Cup final, back in 2010, it was by virtue of their 6-2 aggregate win over the men from the West.

BETTING

Sligo 11/8; Draw 11/5; St Pat's 15/8

PREDICTION

Expect Sligo's Eric Odhiambo to cause a bit of a stir under the bright lights of the Showgrounds, but by the same token, keep an eye out for the visiting Chris Forrester working his magic on either wing. Given how close the match comes after the weekend's results, a moment of magic might turn out to be the difference by the time the full whistle blows, or even an inspired substitute at a pivotal moment.

A final score of 1-1.

Sligo Rovers

injured: Danny Ledwith (hamstring), Joseph Ndo (leg), Gavin Peers (knee) and Raffaele Cretaro (calf).

St Patrick's Ath

injured: None.
Doubtful: Keith Fahey and Kenny Browne.