League Preview: Longford Town -v- Sligo Rovers

LONGFORD TOWN

Can Longford Town maintain their positive start to the season and make it a Good Friday?

An impressive comeback draw in Dalymount Park last Saturday has provided Daire Doyle’s side with a feel-good factor that they will want to take into a big game against an in-form Sligo Rovers side.

If Longford are to stay up this year, they will need to make Bishopsgate a fortress, a win against Derry City on the opening weekend will give the Rossoneri confidence.

Conor Davis was the hero last week, grabbing two goals, and they will need a similar performance from him if they are to test the mettle of Liam Buckley’s men.

Speaking to the Longford Leader, manager Doyle said he is relishing the challenge: “It’s great to be playing these teams. To be playing Sligo next. This is where we want to be. It’s where this club should be. 

“We need to ensure we do everything we can to give ourselves the best chance to compete every week. If we do that, we have a chance of picking up points.”

Lee Steacy pulled off an incredible performance last week, keeping his side in the game at 2-0. The bench ultimately proved the difference, propelling Doyle’s side to a point in Dublin’s north side.

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit o’ Red arrive in Longford off the back of an away win last week in Waterford. Romeo Parkes notched his second of the season along with a thunderbolt from flying winger Jordan Gibson.

Four points from six is a good start for the westerners with ambitions of breaking into the top three come towards the end of the season.

Looking ahead to Friday evening’s game, Liam Buckley spoke to sligorovers.com: “We were happy with the result in Waterford. There is room for improvement on the performance.

“We are in some transition, with the new players we have brought in this season, and the most important thing is to pick up points.

“We’ve done that so far and hopefully we can continue on Friday evening.”

Key to the Reds’ successes will be the continued anchoring of the midfield by the impressive duo of Niall Morahan and Greg Bolger.

John Mahon and Garry Buckley continue to form a formidable centre-half partnership while young prodigy Johnny Kenny will aim to get in behind the Longford defence.

Buckley knows that Longford will be no pushovers as they have demonstrated in their opening two games already.

“We’ve got a good group of players here and they’re all going to want to play. The most important thing is to keep everyone fit and we go from there.

“Longford have done very well so far. They’ve kept their core group and added even more quality as well. I’ve no doubt that it helps them to have that consistency there from last season.

“They have good energy and drive in the team. It was a brilliant year for them last season.

“They showed character to get promoted through the difficult play-offs in the First Division and we saw it again last week in Dalymount when coming from 2-0 down.

“They’re going to put it up to us, we know that. We go there looking to build on the win last week,” said Buckley.

Referee: Damian MacGraith

MATCH STATS

These sides last met in 2018 in the first round of the FAI Cup, where then-First Division side Longford ran out 1-0 winners at the Showgrounds.

Their last league meeting came in July 2016, a 2-2 draw at Bishopsgate. Eddie Dsane and Rhys Gorman notched for De Town whilst Raf Cretaro and Philip Roberts bagged for the Bit o’ Red.

BETTING

Longford Town 27/10; draw 23/10; Sligo Rovers 10/11

PREDICTION

Longford Town 1 – 2 Sligo Rovers

Longford Town

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Lewis Banks.

Suspended: None.