Drogheda United -v- Sligo Rovers
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Drogheda United welcome Sligo Rovers to Hunky Dorys Park on Friday evening, where a win for the home side would dent the title hopes of the visitors. (Kick-off, 7.45pm)
Drogheda are second bottom and sitting on nineteen points with Galway United thirteen behind and UCD six ahead. Mick Cooke’s side drew with Derry City last week but lost their two previous league games against UCD and Bohemians after being knocked out of the FAI Ford Cup by Louth Rivals Dundalk.
Sligo, on the other hand, are joint second with Shamrock Rovers who have a game in hand and are a point off leaders Derry City. The Bit o’ Red come in to this game after progressing to the semi-finals of the FAI Ford Cup after defeating Shamrock Rovers on Monday. In their last three league games they have recorded victories over Bray Wanderers and Shamrock Rovers while also taking a point from a 1-1 draw with Derry City.
Sligo have defeated Drogheda all three times they’ve met this season with two 2-0 victories and one 3-0. Drogheda are yet to score against Rovers this season.
In terms of team news, Drogheda are still without Jack Flynn and Colin O’Brien who will be out for the rest of the season. Lee Lynch returns and is available for selection but Mick Cooke will have to plan without Alan McNally, Tiarnan Mulvenna and Gavin Brennan who are all suspended.
Mick Cooke said that his side will go out to win the game: “It was disappointing not to come away from Derry with all three points, but it shows what we are capable of. Sligo are going to be tough, they are one of the best footballing teams in the country and their league position comes as no shock at all. But we are confident and we, as always, will go out to take three points.”
Eoin Doyle and Jason McGuinness will be out for Sligo after they sustained injuries in the cup game against Shamrock Rovers. Danny Ventre returns from suspension.
Paul Cook has acknowledged that beating the Drogs will be no easy feat: “You just have to look at Drogheda’s results. They have drawn with Derry twice and were beaten by a 94th minute goal by Shamrock Rovers. There are no soft touches in this league. It is going to be a very hard game. When you’re winning games it is easy to think you can just keep going. You have to earn the result and respect every team in this league. Mick Cooke has done an excellent job and made Hunky Dorys Park a very hard place to get a result from.”
Drogheda United
Injured: Jack Flynn, Colin O’Brien.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Alan McNally, Tiarnan Mulvenna, Gavin Brennan.
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Eoin Doyle, Jason McGuinness.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Referee: Padraig Sutton.
Paddy Power Odds: Drogheda United 10/1; Draw 7/2; Sligo Rovers 3/10.
Extratime prediction: A 3-1 win for the visitors.
