League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

Cork City welcome Sligo Rovers to Turner’s Cross on Friday evening for their televised Airtricity Premier Division clash. The game has an earlier kick-off of 7.05pm.

CORK CITY

Cork City goes into Friday’s game against Sligo Rovers on an unbeaten run of six league games. They are currently three points behind league leaders Dundalk but will be hoping to narrow this margin by claiming all three points.

The sides have met twice this season with both encounters finishing in draws with the first instalment in Turner’s Cross ending 1-1with a late injury time Billy Dennehy penalty cancelling out an eighty eight minute goal from current Limerick player Kieran Djilalli. The second encounter played up in Sligo in early July ended in a scoreless draw with Cork City unlucky not to claim all three points in injury time when Gary Buckley’s header crashed off the crossbar.

John Caulfield spoke to the club media this Tuesday in the Cork International hotel and he made a reference to his side’s recent victory over Limerick in which he talked about the pressure in the build up to the game as well as Rob Lehane’s performance especially coming on the back of a long injury lay off.

“There was huge pressure going into the Limerick game and it was a vital three points for us. We knew that any slip up would really hand it to Dundalk, so there was pressure on the lads to perform and you could see that it was a very cagey game. I felt that we kept our heads, kept our composure, kept trying to get the winning goal, and when Rob Lehane came on, he injected that bit of magic to win it.”

With only five games remaining in the title race Caulfield is well aware of the fact that if City loses any points then they are effectively out of the title race something that not many people would have expected at the start of the season.

“I don’t think anyone has given us any chance at all, at any stage of the season. We are down to the last five matches, we are only three points behind and we are still not given much of a chance. Would I prefer to be in Dundalk’s position? Of course I would, but at the same time we are still in a good position and we have a good opportunity. Obviously we still need Dundalk to drop points at some stage on the run-in, but we can’t afford to drop points ourselves, because if we do, we hand the title to them.”

City will be without long term absentee Michael Rafter while both John O’Flynn and Gearóid Morrissey are currently carrying knocks and will be further assessed closer to kick-off.

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers come into this game on the back of a set of indifferent results.

Sligo Rovers will again be managed by caretaker manager Gavin Dykes who watched a 2-0 home defeat to Drogheda United last week in his first game in charge.

Gavin Dykes was disappointed with his side’s performance last week when he spoke to sligorovers.ie earlier this week. Yet he praised the squad for the way in which they have trained this week in order to put last week’s disappointing performance behind them.

"A disappointing result and performance. The players feel that they let themselves down on the night.

“I have seen a good reaction from the players in training this week. We have been low on numbers so it’s hard to work on things but they have been very good since I came in. They know people are disappointed with the result last weekend but I feel this game is the ideal opportunity to put that right.”

Dykes is hopeful of a good performance in Cork and will be hoping that his team give it a good shot considering that Cork have struggled to defeat them in the two occasions they have met this season.

“They haven’t beaten us this year and both matches have been close. We will be doing our best to go down there and get a good result. It’s a great ground to go and play in and I always enjoyed going there myself.”

Sligo Rovers have a big injury list ahead of the trip with Iarfhlaith Davoren, Jeff Henderson, John Russell, Kalen Spillane and Alan Keane ruled out while both Gary Rogers and Gavin Peers will be given late fitness tests considering both players have struggled to take part in training all week.

Referee: Neil Doyle

MATCH STATS

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

Current Sligo Rovers caretaker manager Gavin Dykes made his debut as a player for the Bit O’Red against Cork City 25^th October 1987.

Mark McNulty is the only player to start all 28 league games for Cork City this season. Mark O’Sullivan is the only other ever-present player, coming off the bench in the season opener against St Patrick’s Athletic and doing enough to start every game since.

PREDICTION

Cork City 2-0 Sligo Rovers

BETTING

Cork City: 8/11 Draw: 5/2 Sligo Rovers: 7/2

Cork City

Doubtful: Gearoid Morrissey and John O’Flynn

Injured: Michael Rafter

Suspended: None

Sligo Rovers

Doubtful: Gavin Peers and Gary Rogers

Injured: Alan Keane, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Kalen Spillane, Jeff Henderson and John Russell

Suspended: None