League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Sligo Rovers

SHELBOURNE

Damien Duff’s Shelbourne welcome a struggling Sligo Rovers to Tolka Park for the second time this season in the Premier Division on Friday night (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The sides have met twice this season already. The first occasion was a 2-1 home victory for Damien Duff’s men. A John Mahon own goal in the second half was enough to see of the Bit O’Red.

The second encounter last month saw Shels victorious again winning away from home 3-0 away win Jack Moylan grabbing the headlines as the hattrick hero on the night.

Shelbourne come into Friday’s night game on the back of being unbeaten in the last three games since the home defeat to St. Patrick’s Athletic.

“Form wise ye we’re seeing improvements,” said Shelbourne boss Damien Duff.

“We’re into the second half of the season now and when I think back and how many times did, I say last year where ‘oh we played well and didn’t pick up the points’, for a while it was a lot of hard luck stories with us.

“We’re maturing, yes, we are performing well but know we can perform better. But we’re picking up points. That is paramount. Monday is the perfect example, the first half isn’t overly good, the second half, we do enough to get the job done.”

Shels will be without Paddy Barrett, Kian Leavy and Brian McManus for the game Friday. Duff revealed that McManus will be out for around 8-12 weeks after having an operation on his knee.

“Brian has been struggling with a chronic knee issue, which is why you haven’t seen as much of Brian as we would’ve liked. We decided to get it addressed now. Not sure of the timeframe, but it could be around 8-12 weeks minimum”.

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo will be looking for positive result to go into the mid-season break on Friday night.

The visitors come into the game on the back of two defeats, four in their past five matches. Their only points earned in that five was a 1-0 home win against Derry City.

The Bit O’Red have suffered hugely with injuries this season with a number of key players missing such as Nando Pijnaker, Eanna Clancy, and Fabrice Hartmann have all been out recently to which manager John Russell attributes to the recent bad form.

“It’s been a tough run of results lately. We’ve suffered with player injuries which has no doubt impacted us,” said Russell who spoke to Sligo Rovers media team.

We are fully aware of the situation we’re in and everyone is working extremely hard to turn the corner.

“We want to go into the mid-season break on the back of a positive result. The last time we played Shelbourne, we never turned up. Friday night gives us an opportunity to put that right.”

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH STATS

Sligo’s last win against Shelbourne was a 2-0 away victory last September. Goals from Frank Liivak and Aidan Keena were the difference on the day.

Sligo Rovers striker Max Mata is the joint top scorer in the league along with St Pat’s midfielder Chris Forrester with nine goals.

Shels attacker Jack Moylan leads the way for The Reds with six goals.

PREDICTION

Shelbourne 3-1 Sligo Rovers

Shelbourne

Injured: Paddy Barrett, Kian Leavy, Brian McManus

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne, Karl O’ Sullivan, Gary Boylan, Eanna Clancy, Fabrice

Hartmann, James Finnerty and Conor Walsh

Doubtful: Greg Bolger, Nando Pijnaker and John Mahon

Suspended: None

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) June 8, 2023