League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

CORK CITY

Having had their tie last Monday postponed because of an unplayable pitch, league leaders Cork City return to action on Friday night when they welcome Sligo Rovers to Turner’s Cross.

The sides have had contrasting starts to their season and although the form book might suggest a home win, you just have to look at the array of talent Ian Baraclough has at his disposal to know that it is only a matter of time before the Bit O’Red click into gear this season.

At the club’s pre-match press conference this week, Cork City manager John Caulfield insisted that Sligo should not be written off.

 “I saw Sligo myself on Monday night (against Drogheda) and I’ve seen them on TV as well. Their record in recent years has been excellent. They won the league for the first time in many years and have won cups as well.

“They are a very dangerous side, they have top quality players. They will have a huge say this year and will be a team who will cause other teams problems. Whether they will be consistent enough to win the league, who knows, but they will still be in the top 3 or 4.

Speaking to CorkCityFC.ie, the former striker revealed that it was important for his team to concentrate on their own performances.

 “You obviously look at the opposition, and their strengths and weaknesses, but if your own players don’t perform, it doesn’t matter. We do work on the opposition, but you have to focus on your own strengths and how you’re going to play. If we have four or five players who don’t perform on Friday night, we won’t get a result, but if we can all perform to the level we have done in the last month, then, no matter what Sligo throw at us, I believe we are good enough to win. I feel it is crucial for us to impose our own game.

“We’ve done nothing yet. All we’ve done is we have started well. It looks as though this team has the potential to go to bigger places, and that’s what we hope to do, but if people get carried away we’ll get nowhere. I think we have a good, level-headed bunch of guys and I think we can keep them grounded, and if we can stay grounded then I think we have a massive opportunity.”

‘Ankle’ is the dreaded word on Leeside with four players suffering from ankle injuries. Strikers Danny Morrissey and Michael Rafter are still out for the Rebel Army, while Anthony Elding is looking unlikely to feature. Midfielder Colin Healy has starred in midfield for City this season, but having injured his ankle in the 3-0 win against Shamrock Rovers he is considered a major doubt and will be assessed closer to kick off.

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers are enduring somewhat of a sluggish start to the 2014 campaign – in stark contrast to the last season when they won their opening eight ties. This year however, they have one of their first six and speaking to SligoRovers.com, manager Ian Baraclough reckons that this might lead to people underestimating the Bit O’Red.

 “I don’t think many people will expect us to get anything from the game, but we will in the dressing-room. It's a league table we've not been used to. But you won't get any negativity from me, my staff or the players.

“Turner’s Cross is a great stadium, Cork are getting good backing at the moment with 5,000 or 5,500 fans, what is not to get up about that?

“Players want to play in front of big crowds and one that is against you. Go and turn the tables is what I’ll be telling them.

“It holds no fear for us. This is a game that can really lift us and a victory would do it. The performance against Drogheda merited a win but we can’t keep producing performances and not results. We are going to Cork with the intention of getting all three points and I believe we can do so.”

If Sligo are to get a result from Leeside, they too have injury worries to contend with as Raffaele Cretaro misses out with a calf injury and Danny North misses out with a foot injury. Gavin Peers is also an absentee, a knee complaint ruling him out, while Seamus Conneely is suffering from a groin injury.

Referee: Paul McLaughlin

MATCH STATS

Current Cork City manager John Caulfield scored a hat-trick against Sligo Rovers in the 3-2 home win on the 23rd November 1986. This was the first hat-trick ever scored by a Cork City player.

Sligo Rovers have kept five clean sheets in their last seven league games with Cork City.

Sligo Rovers have only won in one of their SSE Airtricity League Premier Division games this season. Cork City have only failed to win one of theirs.

BETTING

Cork City 11/8; Draw 9/4; Sligo Rovers 9/5.

PREDICTION

Cork City 2 Sligo Rovers 1

Cork City

Injured: Danny Morrissey (ankle), Michael Rafter (ankle)
Doubtful: Anthony Elding (ankle), Colin Healy (ankle)
Suspended: None

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Raffaele Cretaro (calf), Gavin Peers (knee), Seamus Conneely (groin), Danny North (foot)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None