League Preview: Sligo Rovers - v - Cork City

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit O'Red welcome high flying Cork City to the Showgrounds this Saturday night. With Rovers manager Dave Robertson still looking for his first win, it will be his oppoiste number John Caulfield who will be the more confident going in to the game.

Sligo will be hoping that there will be no repeat of last weekends 4-0 demolition at the hands of Bray Wanderers.

Speaking to the clubs official website this week Robertson said "The reaction I have got from the players to last week’s performance has been positive, there is no problems on that side of things. But there is only so much we can do in training but that doesn’t matter when the whistle goes for the 90 minutes.

"We are focused on the task we have (against Cork City) for what will be one of our biggest tests. Cork are a good team. They are strong all over the pitch and they have hit the ground running.

"They are well organised and well-disciplined and we know exactly what to expect from them. We know that whoever it is we are playing we need to be at it and give 100% and that is what will be looking for tomorrow.

"We have a rebuilding project here and there will be hiccups along the way. But one thing the fans can rest assured of is that we are all giving everything to turn it around and get some results. Also we will continue to play in the right way and play good football.

"We will stick to our guns on that and stick to what we believe in. If we can continue to do that I am confident we will be fine.”

CORK CITY

The Leesiders come into this week's game on the back of an excellent win over reigning League Of Ireland Champions Dundalk. Manager John Caulfield will be hoping for more of the same when his side meet the Bit O'Red at the Showgrounds.

Speaking ahead of the game Caulfield said "We have another difficult trip going to Sligo, which is a fantastic place to go to. It is important for us to go up there, put in a top performance and try to get the three points.

"We have a very good squad and very good players, so it is about us going up and giving a performance like we have done against Bohemians, Dundalk and Longford.

"We expect Sligo to have a massive reaction and we expect the crowd to get behind them from the start; we are anticipating that and we have to make sure that we are ready and that we give the performance we are capable of giving.”

Referee: Robert Harvey.

MATCH STATS

Cork City have an excellent record at The Showgrounds with 16 wins in their 30 visits - they took four points from their two trips north-west in 2015.

City striker Sean Maguire had a spell on loan with Rovers in 2014, a spell which produced just one goal. It was against Limerick in The Showgrounds on July 27. He doubled his Sligo tally in just one game with Cork City when on debut he netted twice in a 2-0 win against Bohemians at Turner’s Cross.

Rovers only win the last 10 between these two teams in a league game was the 2-0 win in 2013. Before that the last home win was a big 4-1 result in 2007.

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 5/1; Draw 11/4; Cork City 5/7.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 0-2 Cork City

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Tim Clancy, Gavin Peers, Michael Schlingermann.

Suspended: Phil Roberts.

Cork City

Injured:  John Kavanagh, Garry Buckley, Alan Bennett, Colin Healy, Gearóid Morrissey.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Greg Bolger.