EA Sports Cup Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Derry City

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers will host Derry City this Monday afternoon in the Second Round of the EA Sports Cup (Kick off: 4:00pm). Sligo will be up against their North West rivals for the second time already this season with the hope of progressing to the next round.

The Bit O’Red lost 3-1 to Bray last time out leaving the side last in the table and still searching for their first win of the league season.

Owen Heary explaining the importance of a win and assessing his squad, had this to say:

“Every game that we play we will be giving priority to and looking to win. If we can get the win in this game it will help get confidence in the team.

“Not that we are lacking confidence going forward, we have been doing well and been positive going forward, but defensively. We have been making mistakes and getting punished for them each time.”

The Sligo boss continued by saying, “We have a decent squad of players here and we will look to use that squad. If we put other players in and give them a chance we will see how they fare.

“But the team that take to the field we will be looking to get a result. It’s the chance to get through to the quarter-finals of a cup and that is what we will be looking to achieve.”

The Bit O’Red manager in anticipation of the game, concluded by saying this:

“We played very well in that game. They just had the one chance and they scored from it but we created plenty of chances but just couldn’t get that touch for the second.

“Both teams will have the video from it and will look at that and we’ve been working on some things to prepare us today. It’s the chance to kick-start our season so that is what we will be aiming to do.”

The only player that Heary will be without is Jeff Henderson who will remain on the sidelines for some time yet with a foot injury.

DERRY CITY

Derry will make the short trip to the Showgrounds on Monday hoping to put the 3-0 loss to Cork City last Friday night firmly behind them. The Candystripes have made a less than convincing start to the season having only accumulated seven points in their opening six games.

Derry received a bye in the First Round and will be hoping to get their League Cup campaign off to a good start.

Referee:Ray Matthews

MATCH STATS

The sides met at the same stage last season with Derry coming out on top of a 1-0 score line.

Sligo’s only win so far this season came in the First Round of the EA Sports Cup, an 8-0 victory over Mayo League.

Derry came out on top in the head to head stats last season during the four games played last season in all competitions (W3 D1 L0).

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 5/4; Draw 9/4; Derry City 15/8.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 1-2 Derry City.

Sligo Rovers

Injured:Jeff Henderson

Doubtful:None.

Suspended:None.

Derry City

Injured:Unknown.

Doubtful:Unknown.

Suspended:Unknown.