League Preview: Shelbourne -v- Sligo Rovers

Shelbourne in a huddle ahead of kick-off against Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park on Monday 22 April 2024

Shelbourne in a huddle ahead of kick-off against Shamrock Rovers in Tolka Park on Monday 22 April 2024 Credit: Brian F Smyth (ETPhotos)

SHELBOURNE

The business end of the season really gets cracking as Shelbourne welcome Sligo Rovers to Tolka Park with both sides needing a victory for their own respective agendas.

Shelbourne have looked like a team driving a car on near empty looking for the nearest petrol station and can certainly file this game in the ‘must win’ category as they look to arrest an untimely run of one league win in six games.

Sligo meanwhile could be front runners in the race for Europe or have their season dashed into irrelevance in the space of seven days with the battle for fourth place resting on whether Derry City reach the FAI Cup final next Friday.

Shels manager Damien Duff has issued a rallying cry to his side saying that the league leaders have shown that they are the best side over 30 games but must prove it over 36 games.

“Basics is the right word. We need to get back to basics, back to simplicity. Teams that play simple football are usually very successful. If you can be the best at that, you can go far. The last two weeks haven’t changed that – listen, it’s been tough on the lads, they were gutted in Derry and last week, but it hasn’t altered our course. We’ve been the best team in the country over 30 games – now it’s time to finish the job and be the best over 36. I have no doubt in my mind that these players have what it takes.”

The two-time Premier League winner with Chelsea has plenty of experiences of tense run ins during a season and he wants the club to be united going forward as they look to shake off the advances of Derry and Shamrock Rovers.

“The narrative for the weekend is that it’s this massive thing, but the players need to strip it all back, don’t think like that. Yes, you have to play with energy, hunger, and an edge.

"But you also need to stay ultra calm, because with that comes clarity. When you align all of that, you usually get a strong individual performance.

"That’s what we’ve been missing at times over recent weeks. Bring top-quality individual performances, and suddenly you have a top-quality team.



"You can’t overthink football—no ‘why’ or ‘what if.’ When enough players perform well, the team plays well, and the result usually follows.

“It’s a really special thing that’s happened here organically, the connection between the people on the pitch and the people in the stands.

"I tell the players to their faces every day that I love them, and I tell everyone in the media the same—people know how much I love the players.

"But I probably don’t tell the supporters enough how much I love them. They’ve played a huge part in the best three years of my life. Do I personally need them tomorrow? No, I’m not playing.

"But the players need them—more than the supporters can imagine. They need their noise, and they need their love— it makes all the difference."

SLIGO ROVERS



This will be Sligo’s second visit to Drumcondra this season and the fourth and final meeting of the sides this year. 

John Russell’s charges have come out on top in two of the three preceding games against the league leaders, and a win could see them return to the top four depending on results elsewhere. 

Russell is enjoying the run-in as he looks to steer the club to as high a position as possible. Had it not been for the exploits of newly promoted sides Galway and Waterford, the Bit O’Red would be tagged as the surprise package of the season having been pitted as relegation candidates before the start of the campaign.

“It’s another weekend and another huge game for us,” said Russell. “We weren’t at our best against Dundalk but we were happy with how we grinded out the win regardless. We showed plenty of character and maturity to turn that game around and that’s a real positive for us. 

“At this stage of the season, it’s all about picking up points and as many as you can regardless of performance. 

“Tolka is one of the toughest places to go. We’re playing the league leaders and possibly the champions of Ireland. But we always back ourselves and I have great faith in this team under any circumstance.

"Our next two games are against the top two so it’ll be tough but you’ve got to enjoy and embrace these challenges. We’re still in with a shout of finishing in a European spot with five games to go and that tells you how well we’ve done this year.”

Referee: Paul McLaughlin.

 

MATCH STATS

Shelbourne won 0-1 in the Showgrounds in the first meeting between the sides but Sligo have notched back to back wins against the Dublin side since.

 

Shelbourne

Injured: None.

Doubtful: JJ Lunney, Sam Bone.

Suspended: Sean Gannon.

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Wilson Waweru, John Mahon, Conor Reynolds, Stephen Mallon, Stefan Radosavljevic

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

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