UCD -v- Sligo Rovers

UCD

UCD will be hoping to regsiter their points at home this season when they meet league leaders Sligo Rovers at The UCD Bowl on Monday night at 7:30pm.

The Students have had a difficult start, only securing their first point in five games on Friday night when two David McMillan goals (one a penalty) gave them a 2-2 draw away to Bray Wanderers.

Martin Russell will be looking to the positives however as they attempt to do what no other club has done this season – beat the defending champions Sligo Rovers. For starters, they have scored more goals than the four teams above them. Also, the UCD supremo masterminded a 1-0 victory for his side in the corresponding fixture last year.

If they are to repeat this feat however, they are going to have to tighten things up at the back. So far they have conceded as many goals as the next two worst defences combined.

Captain Mick Leahy is sorely missed at the back and the Students can’t get him back soon enough. He misses out once again with a knee injury. Robbie Benson is also definitely out, while Barry McCabe and Mark Langtry are doubts.

Speaking to UCDSoccer.com before the game, Russell was under no illusions as to the task at hand.

“We played well against Bray on Friday night and showed great spirit to come back from their early goal and get into the lead until the 80th minute. It was our first point and we hope to build on it against Sligo.

“Playing against Sligo represents the sternest of challenges but it's great for our young lads to test themselves against the best in the country and see how well they can do.”

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers travel to Belfield on the back of a 3-0 win away to Bohemians last Friday night.

With five games gone, the Bit O’Red have secured maximum points, but last May they left this ground with no points as they saw their unbeaten start to the season come to an abrupt end.

Speaking to sligorovers.com manager Ian Baraclough was clearly determined not to be this year’s “April Fools”.

“We’ve had UCD watched and they’ve got a big squad to choose from of young, talented players who will give their all for 90 plus minutes. They’ll feel like they have a bit of an Indian sign over us at last year and they are at home. They will believe they can cause us problems and we have to cope with it and be on top of our game to come away with a good outcome.

“We were caught out last year for whatever reason against them and deservedly beaten, we’ll put all our energy into Monday’s game and know that it’s up to us to go out there and play to our strengths.”

Sligo will again be without the services of Danny North and Joseph Ndo, while Seamus Conneely will also join them on the sidelines having suffered a knee problem last Thursday in training.

Again speaking to sligorovers.com, Baraclough indicated that Gavin Peers is a doubt with a hamstring injury but confirmed there was better news for Danny Ventre who is available for selection for the first time this season.

“Danny Ventre is in the squad for the first time this season which is a boost. Gavin Peers has a slight strain on his hamstring and is recovering so we’ll assess him ahead of the game.

“We had a look at one or two clips from Friday’s game. Overall our game plan worked, it was our first time playing 4-4-2 or 4-4-1-1 and we had to adapt. You have to have the right players to do that and it’s important we can. There were certain things we didn’t get right but I said to the players beforehand you have to find a way to win. It might not be pretty but you have to get the result and we did that.”

Referee: Dave McKeon.

MATCH STATS

With the league title virtually assure, Sligo Rovers lost their last two league games of last season. Other than those two games, UCD were the only team to beat the Bit O’ Red in the league when a Graham Rusk header gave the Students a 1-0 victory.

Anthony Elding has enjoyed an impressive start to his League of Ireland career scoring a goal in each of Sligo Rovers five league games so far. However if you were to remove his goals from Sligo Rovers games they would still be top of the league with 11 points. (Derry City would also be on 11 points.)

If selected to play, the McMillan brothers could be marking each other for tomorrow night’s tie. They have played against each other twice before in League of Ireland football. Last July Evan won the bragging rights at the family dinner table when his goal gave Bohemians a 1-0 win over UCD. In September it was a closer affair when two late goals for Bohs denied David a chance of revenge.

BETTING

UCD 15/2; Draw 10/3; Sligo Rovers 4/11.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers to win 3-1.

UCD

Injured: Mick Leahy (knee), Robbie Benson (Hamstring).
Doubtful: Mark Langtry (dead leg), Barry McCabe (groin).
Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Danny North (knee), Joseph Ndo (hand), Seamus Conneely (knee).
Doubtful: Gavin Peers (hamstring).
Suspended: None.