UCD -v- Sligo Rovers

UCD
UCD welcome league leaders Sligo Rovers to the Belfield Bowl tomorrow night for the second fixture of the second series of games this season.

The Students will be looking to bounce back from a 4-2 defeat to Cork City on Friday night, but they may have to do it without up to six players as Mick Leahy, Sean Russell, James Kavanagh, Chris Mulhall and Tomas Boyle are all injured while Chris Lyons is on International duty with the Irish U19s.

The last time these two met was a dramatic night in The Showgrounds. Despite Alan Keane being sent off moments earlier, Danny North gave The Bit O'Red the lead as the game approached the hour mark but when David O'Connor scored in the 90th minute, it looked like he had secured a point on the road for his side, but Rovers weren't going to lie down and deep into injury time, Jason McGuinness popped up with a header to seal a victory for the home side, the second week in a row he scored a vital goal in injury time.

With injuries plaguing his side at the minute, Martin Russell admits he may have to leave it late before he decides on his starting line-up.

"The games are coming thick and fast and as a result we have picked up a few injuries, so our team selection will have to wait till the last minute, but that is part and parcel of the game. It is a great challenge for our lads as they are riding high in the league. We will have to be at our best to get something from the game and that is what we will try to do.  Anyone that comes to the Bowl will see an entertaining game and hopefully three points going our way.”

“Chris Lyons has been called into the Republic of Ireland under 19 team which is great for Chris as it is the recognition of the hard work he has put in over the last number of months. It is a blow for us though as he has been playing well for UCD but if we are to develop players in the way we have been doing then these are the goals that have to be achieved."

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers travel to the Belfield Bowl tomorrow evening now sitting eight points clear of their nearest competitors following Friday's 3-0 victory over Shelbourne.

Joseph Ndo is out of this encounter, while Ross Gaynor is a big doubt after missing Friday's game through illness and Gavin Peers is suspended due to an accumlated number of yellow cards. Mark Quigley however appears to have recovered from a knock picked up on Friday and Pascal Millien may also push to make his first start for the club after a fantastic substitute appearance against Shels.

"We knew it would be difficult against Shelbourne and that the first goal would be criticial. It opened the game up. We still had to go put them to bed and I was happy with how we did that and the second-half performance.

"I saw UCD play Shelbourne recently and they make it hard for every side in the UCD Bowl. They play their own game no matter the opposition and even though they are low in the table, they have recorded some good results in the first third of the season.

“We’ll have prepared right over the weekend to recuperate from Friday and we’ll need a good performance to get a result."

Referee:

MATCH STATS

Since their 2009 promotion, UCD have only recorded one result over Sligo Rovers so far, a 2-1 victory at home last season.

UCD is the only Premier Divison fixture where Sligo Rovers won't meet a former player or have a player in their team that once played for the other club.

There were 13 goals in the four games between the sides last season. Ten for Sligo Rovers and three for UCD.

BETTING

UCD 11/2; Draw 3/1; Sligo Rovers 1/2.

PREDICTION

UCD 1-3 Sligo Rovers

UCD injury news: James Kavanagh (hip flexor), Mick Leahy (slight knee, doubt), Chris Mulhall (Groin), Tomas Boyle (Back), Sean Russell (Back).

UCD suspension news: None.

Sligo Rovers injury news: Joseph Ndo, Ross Gaynor (doubtful).

Sligo Rovers suspension news: Gavin Peers.