Russell – We can be competitive

Limerick manager Martin Russell believes his side “can be competitive” against high-flying Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium on Sunday afternoon (kick-off 4pm), as they look to build on last weekend’s first clean-sheet of the season.

The Shannonsiders held Derry City to a scoreless draw at The Brandywell last Friday evening, with debutant ‘keeper Freddie Hall giving the defence a “more solid look” according to his boss.
 

That moved them onto six points as their search for a first win of the campaign continues, with crucial back-to-back home matches against Sligo Rovers and Bohemians just around the corner.

Russell’s team remain ten points adrift of Sligo and Derry at the foot of the table with both having lost this weekend.

The closest Limerick came to a victory this term was against Rovers at Jackman Park back in late April – Brandon Miele’s 86th-minute equaliser denying them – and the boss says his players should take confidence from that display.

“Shamrock Rovers are out of Europe now so their focus is getting back into it and finishing as high as possible in the table to do that,” Russell told LimerickFC.ie.

“Tallaght Stadium is never an easy place to go to but we believe particularly on our second-half performance against Derry if we can carry that play on then we can be competitive and get a result.

“We know it won’t be easy but our meeting earlier in the season shows we can be competitive against them and if we play to the best of our ability then we will give ourselves a chance.

“A clean-sheet is always a plus and it was good to get one last week. We’re going into the game in good spirits. Freddie, as a more senior ‘keeper, gives us a more solid look. We’re continuing to try to improve the squad and get better, and hopefully we will do that.”

Limerick remain without a win in national competition after 22 outings this season, with their only victories coming in the Munster Senior Cup which they won for a 13th time back in May.

Last weekend’s draw ended an eight-game losing streak in the league. The last time they tasted victory on the road was in Derry on 10 October last, with Rory Gaffney striking a last-minute winner.

Rovers exited the UEFA Europa League at the hands of Norwegian side Odd Ballklubb on Thursday, going out 4-1 on aggregate. Their last Premier Division match was on 26 June when they won 2-1 in Galway.

At home, the Hoops have won four on the bounce at Tallaght Stadium, netting 12 in their last three outings there, against Longford Town, Sligo and Derry. It is a year since they lost a home league match – that on a 1-0 scoreline to Drogheda United on 25 July 2014.

Rovers go into the game in fourth place but with two games in hand over third-placed Saint Patrick’s Athletic, who are three points in front of them, while Pat Fenlon’s side will look to keep the pressure on second-placed Cork City who face clear leaders Dundalk in Oriel Park on Sunday evening (6pm).

When the sides met on Shannonside in April, captain Shane Duggan gave his hometown the lead in the 13th minute which they held until Miele’s late intervention.