Shamrock Rovers -v- Sligo Rovers

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The battle of the Rovers takes place in Tallaght Stadium on Monday evening as Shamrock Rovers welcome Sligo Rovers in the Airtricity Premier Division. (kick off 7.45pm)

Shamrock Rovers have put a shaky start behind them and find themselves just three points off top stop. Sligo Rovers are in fifth place but are seven points behind the leaders.

Shamrock Rovers come into the game on the back of a 1-0 win on Friday at home to Bray Wanderers. Gary Twigg’s first goal of the season was enough for their fourth win of the season.

Pat Sullivan (knee), Craig Sives (calf), Stephen Bradley (wrist) and Sean O’Connor (hip) remain sidelined, while Robert Bayly (ankle) will face a last fitness test ahead of the game.

“It was important to get the three points, and I felt we controlled the game throughout. We could have won by more, but Bray worked hard to get into the game”, Shamrock Rovers manager Michael O’Neill said.

“We’ve played everyone now, so we know what we’re facing a bit more now. It’s good to go into the second quarter on a good run; we’re six games unbeaten now and we just have to keep that up.

“I’m expecting Sligo to be a tough game, as always. But we have come out on top, or with a draw, in all our games since I came to the club, so we are hoping for the same in this game. But it will be a tough one, I’m sure”, O’Neill concluded.

Sligo Rovers lost out in their least league outing as they went down 1-0 to St. Patrick’s Athletic. They come into the match with injury worries over a number of players.

Mauro Almeida is out having picked up a serious Achilles injury in the defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic last Friday night. Iarfhlaith Davoren is absent with a leg injury. Alan Keane is expected to be fit while Matthew Blinkhorn returns from an ankle injury he picked up in training last Thursday. Joseph Ndo came through 90 minutes against St. Pat’s and is likely to feature at some stage once again.

“I thought we should have taken something from the game. We dominated for long spells but lacked a bit of penetration in attack. We had a lot of good performance so we’re looking forward to the game against Shams on Monday”, Manager Paul Cook said.

Referee: D. Hancock
Venue: Tallaght Stadium
Paddypower.com Odds: Shamrock Rovers 8/11, Draw 9/4,Sligo Rovers 10/3


Shamrock Rovers
Suspended: None
Injured: Pat Sullivan, Craig Sives, Stephen Bradley, Sean O’Connor
Doubtful: Robert Bayly

Sligo Rovers
Suspended: None
Injured: Mauro Almeida , Iarfhlaith Davoren
Doubtful: Alan Keane


Extratime Prediction: Shamrock Rovers to win, just barely. 2-1.