League Preview: Galway United -v- Sligo Rovers
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GALWAY UNITED
This Friday night Eamonn Deacy Park will play host to arguably the most significant Connaught derby in many years. Galway United are fully aware that a win against their local rivals will put further daylight between themselves and bottom club Limerick FC in the relegation battle and heap more pressure on Sligo Rovers.
A victory for the Tribesman will see them leapfrog Rovers and move into 10th place in the table. With just six points separating the bottom six with five games remaining every point is precious at this stage of the season. Tommy Dunne has underlined the importance of this fixture by telling www.galwayunitedfc.ie, “the Sligo game is massive for us.”
Despite a good display Galway succumbed to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Shamrock Rovers in their previous game but won’t need much encouragement to lift themselves for this game. Galway have another crucial home match against Limerick FC to come and two home wins on the bounce could see the Tribesman take a huge step towards securing their top flight status for next season.
SLIGO ROVERS
Similarly, Sligo Rovers will go into this encounter knowing that an away win will mean they will move them seven points clear of Limerick FC and four points ahead of their neighbours Galway. This would leave them in 7th place in the table and give them a strong belief that they will be plying their trade in the Premier Division next year.
With tough away encounters against Longford Town and St.Patrick’s Athletic Micky Adams men can give themselves some welcome breathing space between them and their relegation rivals. Sligo go into this game off the back of a morale boosting 3-2 victory over Bray Wanderers at the Showgrounds and have been in decent form as of late.
The Bit’O Reds boss was pleased with the result but won’t be taking the game lightly telling www.sligorovers.ie, “we had a look at the video of the Bray Wanderers game and there are certain things that we need to tighten up on so we have worked on those.”
Referee: Robert Rogers
MATCH STATISTICS
Sligo Rovers go into this game with the better head to head record having taken four points in their two previous meetings with a 1-1 draw in their encounter at the Showgrounds and a 1-0 win at Eamonn Deacy Park thanks to a winning goal from Dinny Corcoran.
Galway United’s recent form has been poor of late with just one win in their last five and have only managed to score 5 goals in those games. By contrast, Sligo have only lost one of their previous five fixtures but have been somewhat inconsistent with two wins and two draws.
Galway have struggled to keep a clean sheet lately (with one in their last five) while Sligo have been reasonably prolific with thirteen goals respectively.
BETTING
Galway United 21/10; Draw 12/5; Sligo Rovers 6/5
PREDICTION
Galway United 1 - 1 Sligo Rovers
Galway United
Suspensions: None
Doubtful: None
Injuries: Alex Byrne (groin), Jason Molloy (thigh) and Padraic Cunningham (knee)
Sligo Rovers
Suspensions: None
Doubtful: Jason Hughes (groin)
Injuries: John Russell (hip), Kevin Devaney and Jeff Henderson
