Sligo look to overcome the odds
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A win by two goals, and glory awaits. Sligo Rovers go into tomorrow night’s match knowing exactly the task that lies ahead of them, and what must be done to overcome it. After the goals by Smaljaj and Keane, the Bit O'Red must emulate the great nights of football that they have played since their renewed membership of the Premier Division. If Sligo Rovers are to overcome the 2-1 deficit away from home, the match that's to take place tomorrow would go down beside the 3-1 demolition of Derry at the Showgrounds back in 2006, the 4-1 annihilation of Cork City and the memorable 2-1 defeat of Sean Connor's Bohemians side two years ago in 2007.
On first looking into the Sligo Rovers side, one cannot help but to see a team with a point to prove. They languish in eighth position in the league, and after each game Rovers bear a new wound. With their cup game against Cork placed aside, Sligo's form looks abysmal, with only one point picked up from their last twelve. But could tomorrow possibly be the rebirth of Sligo Rovers, where the tag of mice will be discarded and the label of men will be attached to the side from the periphery of Europe.
Tomorrow night, the presence of Gavin Peers and Rafael Cretaro on the Skhoker pitch is rated as touch and go. These two players are vitally important to Rovers, Peers stabilizes the defence while Cretaro spearheads the attack. If Peers and Cretaro play, and play well, anything is possible. On the flight to Dubrovnik that left Tuesday were Sean Doherty and Brian Cash, two players whose future remains as murky as the mud puddles outside the Vlazznia ground, two players with major points to prove to manager Paul Cook. Not on the flight however were Rob Turner, Matthew Blinkhorn, Dean Marshall and Chris Butler. The latter has had his knee operation while the first three new recruits to the Rovers cause were not registered in time to play in Albania.
All we have is hope. The Shkoderians will be wounded by the loss of keeper Armir Grimaj, but inspired by the crowds welcomed due to the free admission to the ground in Albania. Not only does a trip to Austria await the players and staff of Sligo Rovers if they win by two goals, glory does as well.
On first looking into the Sligo Rovers side, one cannot help but to see a team with a point to prove. They languish in eighth position in the league, and after each game Rovers bear a new wound. With their cup game against Cork placed aside, Sligo's form looks abysmal, with only one point picked up from their last twelve. But could tomorrow possibly be the rebirth of Sligo Rovers, where the tag of mice will be discarded and the label of men will be attached to the side from the periphery of Europe.
Tomorrow night, the presence of Gavin Peers and Rafael Cretaro on the Skhoker pitch is rated as touch and go. These two players are vitally important to Rovers, Peers stabilizes the defence while Cretaro spearheads the attack. If Peers and Cretaro play, and play well, anything is possible. On the flight to Dubrovnik that left Tuesday were Sean Doherty and Brian Cash, two players whose future remains as murky as the mud puddles outside the Vlazznia ground, two players with major points to prove to manager Paul Cook. Not on the flight however were Rob Turner, Matthew Blinkhorn, Dean Marshall and Chris Butler. The latter has had his knee operation while the first three new recruits to the Rovers cause were not registered in time to play in Albania.
All we have is hope. The Shkoderians will be wounded by the loss of keeper Armir Grimaj, but inspired by the crowds welcomed due to the free admission to the ground in Albania. Not only does a trip to Austria await the players and staff of Sligo Rovers if they win by two goals, glory does as well.
About Christopher Davey
is a full time Physics student in Trinity College Dublin, but his deep love of all things football is one that simply has to show somewhere. You can contact Christopher on Twitter @ChristopherDavy View Full Profile