League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Athlone Town
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SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo Rovers will be looking to bounce back from last weekend's 1-0 defeat away to St. Patrick's Athletic when they host Athlone Town at the Showgrounds on Saturday night.
Last week's defeat was Sligo's eight in what has been a rather disappointing league campaign to date. However, manager John Coleman insists the Bit o' Red can drag themselves closer to the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division table top four if they can manage to perform to the same level they did last week in the second-half at Inchicore.
"If we apply ourselves and play as we did against St Patrick's Athletic in the second half last week, I know we are more than capable of winning the game on Saturday," he told sligorovers.com
"That performance in the second period demanded a better result and that's what we're looking for. We want to get three points and give us momentum for a really strong finish to the league."
Unfortunately for Collins, he must plan without the attacking threat of Danny North who begins a three match suspension after his sending-off last week whilst Jeff Henderson and Raffaele Cretaro remain sidelined.
On a more positive note for the Sligo faithful, new acquisitions Eamon Zayed and Daryl Kavanagh could very well make their bow at the Showgrounds.
ATHLONE TOWN
With the league programme entering its final series of games, every single point is vital for teams in the lower regions of the Premier Division table as they seek to avoid the dreaded drop to the second tier. Athlone are one such team and so they make the journey westward looking to spring an upset that would help close the six point gap on second from bottom Bray Wanderers.
The Midlands outfit are unlucky not to be going into this game on the back of a victory over the Wicklow side after an injury time equaliser from Wanderers' defender Michael Barker cancelled out his teammate Dave Scully's early first-half own goal.
Town boss Keith Long's attacking options have received a welcome boost with the news that Sam O'Connor, a former Hull City striker who impressed in a friendly with Dundee United earlier in the season, has received international clearance.
On the downside for Long, an accumulation of yellow cards means midfielder Sean Brennan will miss out through suspension whilst although close to a return, Aidan Collins remains in recuperation mode after undergoing surgery on a shoulder injury and so will have to be content with spectating.
Referee: Ray Matthews
MATCH STATS
Sligo have won both of the meetings between these two sides to date this season with them running out 2-1 winners on the opening day of their 2014 league campaign before enjoying a 2-0 victory at Lissywollen in May.
Newbridge native Philip Gorman is Athlone's top league scorer in 2014 with eight goals, three better than the five notched up by Sligo's top marksman in the league, Danny North.
Sligo are loan signing Eamon Zayed's fourth club in the space of eighteen months.
BETTING
Sligo 4/9; draw 10/3; Athlone 11/2.
PREDICTION
A 2-0 win for Sligo
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Jeff Henderson, Rafaelle Cretaro
Suspended: Danny North
Athlone Town
Injured: Aidan Collins (shoulder)
Suspended: Sean Brennan
