League Preview: Sligo Rovers -vs- Drogheda United

Sam Long was in inspired form as Drogheda United drew with Derry City on Monday night

Sam Long was in inspired form as Drogheda United drew with Derry City on Monday night Credit: Larry McQuillan (ETPhotos)

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers will hope to get their second consecutive win as they host Drogheda United in the Showgrounds on Saturday night (kick-off at 7.45pm).

Rovers got back to winning ways last time out against Finn Harps, but only just. Former Harps man Karl O’Sullivan put the Bit O’Red ahead in the 25th minute, but Rovers found themselves clinging on to weather the Finn Harps storm in the second half, and came away with all three points, grabbing their first win in four games. 

Speaking to the club website ahead of the clash with Drogheda, manager Liam Buckley was in good spirits.

“It should be a good game on Saturday night. I am looking forward to it. We were happy to pick up three points on Monday night and are in fourth position going into the weekend. We have been working hard again in training this week and want to play well against Drogheda who have been in good form lately,” said Buckley.

“When we played them up there we did really well in the first half, going three goals ahead. We’ll be looking to make a good start again and try to keep improving.

“The fans have come out in good numbers this season at The Showgrounds and it’s important that they come out again and get behind the lads as always. It should be a decent crowd on the night.”

The Bit O’Red have a clean bill of health ahead of Saturday’s game, and no suspensions to worry about either.

DROGHEDA UNITED

After a very slow start to their season, Drogheda have quietly gone about their business very well, and are unbeaten in their last six games.



Their latest result was a 1-1 draw at home against league leaders Derry City. Joe Thomson put the Candystripes ahead in the 31st minute, but Drogs pegged them back five minutes before half-time, with Ryan Brennan heading home in the 40th minute.

Drogheda had goalkeeper Sam Long, on loan from League One side Lincoln City, to thank for the result, as he made one of the saves of the season in the first half to keep out Derry’s James Akintunde.

Speaking to his club media after that draw, assistant manager Daire Doyle said, “We came up against a Derry side who have been flying high, they were off the back of a defeat against Shelbourne at the weekend, so you had a team in Derry that would have come here wanting to win the game. We were in for a difficult game, they’re a really talented squad and group, but we put it up to them.

“We probably went behind slightly against the run of play, but it was great to get back into the game. All of our team put their bodies on the line, and to come away with a point against Derry, its pleasing.

“It breeds confidence going into the game against Sligo, we’ll go there with a really positive attitude and try and get another result there on Saturday.

“The last time Sligo played us here, I thought they were outstanding that night, particularly in the first half, and they probably haven’t kicked on how they would have liked. They’ll be in a good way coming into the game on Saturday, but we’re six games now (without a loss), so we’ll be going there with plenty of positives there as well, and we will be looking to get a result.”



In team news, long term absentees Adam Foley and Darragh Markey will be unavailable for Drogheda through injury. There are no suspensions for Kevin Doherty’s men ahead of their trip to the North-West.

Referee: Damien McGraith

MATCH STATS

Sligo Rovers won the last time these two met in Head in the Game Park in the fourth round of fixtures this season. Lewis Banks, Jordan Hamilton and Will Fitzgerald grabbed the goals in a first half blitz. Georgie Poynton missed a penalty for the hosts at the end of the first half, as Rovers cruised to a 3-0 win.

Both sides have seen their form go in opposite directions since, with the Bit O’Red picking up just one point from a possible 12 before beating Finn Harps on Easter Monday.

Drogheda, meanwhile, will look to extend their unbeaten run in the league from six games to seven, and will be buoyed with confidence after their impressive draw against Derry City last time out.

Three points is the gap between the sides in the table at the moment, with Sligo Rovers sitting fifth on 16 points and Drogheda in seventh, with 13 points.

PREDICTION 

Sligo Rovers 1-1 Drogheda United.

Sligo Rovers:

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Drogheda United:

Injured: Adam Foley, Darragh Markey

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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