League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- St Patrick’s Athletic

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers will bring the curtain down on their Premier Division campaign on Friday evening when they host St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Bit O’Red impressed this season and surprised many with fifth-placed still up for grabs - a fine achievement for a side that many believed would be in a relegation battle.

“We proved a lot of people wrong this year,” boss John Russell told his club’s website. 

“There were more than a few who predicted we’d struggle to stay in the division and we managed to end up in a race for the top with the youngest and smallest squad. 

“We’re only 11 points off the top of the table going into the final game and we guaranteed our Premier Division status a few weeks before a few of the other teams who were fancied to finish above us.

“Our players and staff deserve plenty of credit for that. We kept any negativity at the door and focused only on ourselves on what we could do.”

Stephen Mallon, Wilson Waweru and Gareth McElroy will miss the last game of the season via injury with Conor Reynolds a slight doubt.

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC 

European chasing St Pat’s visit Sligo Rovers on Friday evening knowing a win would secure a return to the Conference League qualifiers next summer.

Though that looked unlikely a couple of months ago prior to the arrival of boss Stephen Kenny.

Their fate is now in their own hands following a fine 1-0 victory over Derry City last weekend. 

“We had a great win against Derry City last weekend and it’s the first time that qualifying for Europe has been in our own hands," Kenny said with his after claiming eight league wins in a row.

“It will be a tough game in Sligo and we’ll 𝗵𝗮𝘃𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝗮𝗿𝗻 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝘁𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘄𝗲 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗯𝗲 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗼.

It will be a really tough challenge and I expect it to be a really open game. We’ll have to earn everything that we get.”

Mason Melia and Alex Nolan will miss out for the Saints through injury with Jake Mulraney, Zach Elbouzedi and Romal Palmer major doubts.

Referee: Robert Harvey.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 0-2 St Patrick’s Athletic

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Gareth McElroy, Wilson Waweru, Stephen Mallon.

Doubtful:Conor Reynolds.

Suspended:None.

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: Mason Melia, Alex Nolan.

Doubtful:Jake Mulraney, Zach Elbouzedi, Romal Palmer.

Suspended:None.

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— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 31, 2024