League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Cork City

Micky Adams takes charge of Sligo Rovers for the first time this Saturday but he’ll face a tough challenge as Cork City visit the Showgrounds. Kick-off is 7.45pm.

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo are in desperate need of points as they currently lie eleventh in the Premier Division, three points behind tenth place Derry City. The need for points has also increased drastically, so much so that Micky Adams was brought in, due to Sligo Rovers losing to basement club Limerick last time out.

A debut goal from loanee Rob Lehane and another from impressive youngster Gary Armstrong was not enough in the end as Limerick won 3-2. It puts pressure on Sligo as the Superblues are now just seven points behind the Bit O’Red. Having only picked up four points in their last eight games, fans will hoping for an instant impact from Adams.

Adams was unveiled on Wednesday and spoke to sligorovers.com on the squad ahead of the match saying, “We have a big game on Saturday against Cork and I’m looking forward to getting back on the training ground, that is where the hard work is done.” He then added that, “What has gone on in the past is gone and we will only be looking forward.”

In team news for Adams’ managerial debut in the League of Ireland captain David Cawley will sit out the match through suspension while Rob Lehane is ineligible to face his parent club. The injury is list is still quite long with Danny Ledwith, Jeff Henderson, John Russell and Kevin Devaney all missing out. Dinny Corcoran is also rated as doubtful for the game against Cork.

CORK CITY

Cork will also be wanting all three points this Saturday but for very different reasons to Sligo Rovers. The second place team are playing catch up with Dundalk at the top of the table and are currently six points behind their Louth title rivals. A 1-1 draw with Dundalk didn’t help but the Leesiders returned to form in a 4-0 win against Bohemians last week.

Two Mark O’Sullivan goals, a Colin Healy penalty and a late finish from Danny Morrissey saw Cork run out deserved winners against Bosh in Turner’s Cross. A special mention to former Sligo player Steven Beattie though, who got two assists and won the penalty. The result was their second largest win margin so far this season with a 5-0 win over Limerick in March still top.

John Caulfield spoke to corkcityfc.ie about the trip to the Showgrounds and said, “Going to Sligo is always difficult, but if we play on top form then we believe we can get the three points.” The Cork boss then added, “In the last number of weeks they have been struggling, but they have appointed a new manager who will probably change things around and it is very hard to know what to expect from them.”

Three players will miss the game for Cork City with John Kavanagh, Gavan Holohan and Darren Dennehy all sitting the game out through injury. The Cork manager is also serving a technical suspension so will he will have to make do with a seat in the stands. As a last note on the game, Caufield said, “We’ve had good displays over the last number of weeks and it is just important for us to keep it up.”

Referee: Paul Tuite

MATCH STATS

Sligo and Cork have had close games so far this season with the two drawing in the first game of the season. Steven Beattie had scored for Sligo before Ross Gaynor equalized in added time. Cork then edged the next game although it took another late goal, this time from Mark O’Sullivan, to win 3-2 in Turner’s Cross. Karl Sheppard had scored twice before John Russell and Kevin Devaney drew Sligo level.

Cork have only conceded eleven goals this season, best in the league, with just six of them coming on the road.

Sligo have conceded sixteen goals in eleven home games this season.

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 9/2; Draw 13/5; Cork City 8/13.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 1-3 Cork City.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Danny Ledwith (quad), John Russell (hip), Jeff Henderson (foot), Kevin Devaney (ankle),

Doubtful: Dinny Corcoran (ankle).

Suspended:  David Cawley

Ineligible: Rob Lehane.

Cork City

Injured: John Kavanagh, Gavan Holohan, Darren Dennehy.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: John Caulfield (Manager).