Galway United FC -v- Sligo Rovers FC

• Alan Dooley
• Thu, Mar 26 2009


Surprise table-toppers Galway United entertain winless Sligo Rovers in the first Connacht derby of 2009 at Terryland Park on Friday night(kick off 7.35 p.m.). For a club who were becoming accustomed to a struggle for wins at home over the last two seasons, United now have the mantle of favourites to deal with, as well as having an unbeaten home record to protect.

Contrasting fortunes
Both clubs were beset by managerial turmoil in the close season, but while the saga over Paul Cook's return to the club dragged on and affected the club's pre-season preparations, the Tribesmen's instantaneous decision to appoint Ian Foster has paid clear dividends in the short term thanks to an unbeaten start. How Foster's squad copes with injuries and suspensions remains to be seen, but it is clear for now that his strongest XI is a capable and confident bunch. The underdogs-with-a-point-to-prove tag suited them for the opening weeks, can they now cope with increased expectations?
Rovers travel south looking to get their season in gear following an uninspiring trio of games thus far. A last minute equaliser bagged their only point to date against Cork City, while last weekend's home loss to St Pat's will have worried the natives. Injuries to key players such as centre half Mauro Almeida, who provides a goal threat as well as defensive assuredness, and Chris Butler hasn't helped their cause. But when faced with an opponent in a maroon and white shirt, Sligo have an innate tendency to raise their game. In six league outings since Galway United returned to the Premier Division, only once have the Galwegians come out on top.

Key players missing
Jay O'Shea will be displaying his skills at a League of Ireland ground on Friday, but it will be Waterford's RSC not Terryland Park, as he links up with the Irish U21 squad once more. Sligo's Romauld Boco will be further afield as he joins up with the Benin squad for a crucial World Cup qualifier with Ghana on Sunday. Raf Cretaro joins the list of absentees thanks to eight yellows cards accrued last year, so the attacking impetus will fall on the shoulders of Owen Morrison, the returning Sean Doherty, and Stephen Parkhouse. Ian Foster is hopeful that Shane Fitzgerald will prove an able deputy for O'Shea.
"Shane was unfortunate not to score (against Bray). You can see how quick the boy is and he is one to look out for, he is very good going forward, and he will be a great addition for us", Foster said of the former UCD winger.

Previous encounters
Galway did manage a victory over their provincial rivals last year, but that came via a penalty shoot-out in the League Cup. With league points at stake, Rovers netted all three points with a comfortable 3-0 win at the Showgrounds, which was followed by two close encounters that both finished 1-1. The last time United recorded a league win over the Bit O'Red was in August 2007 when Wes Charles and Dave Cooke were both on the mark at Terryland Park.

Foster against change
Galway United have fielded the same starters for their first three games, a run which will end tomorrow night with O'Shea's absence, but their manager has made it clear that he is averse to rotation for change's sake, and will stick with the players who have brought him success so far.
"If it ain't broke don't fix it. The lads have worked really hard and they are in there on merit. It is the kind of formation that we can play against most teams in the division. Bray were desperate for the three points at home and they made us work hard, and we knew that would be the case. They didn't shock us or anything, we knew it would be a tough game.
"They are all big games. I have seen Sligo in pre-season, they didn't get into Europe by accident, they pass the ball, they are well organised, and it will be a difficult game for us.”

Cook looking forward
Paul Cook was brutally honest in his assessment of last weekend's loss to St Pat's, confirming that he believes that hard work and application can bring his side out of their apparent slump.
“We’re going through a little spell at the moment where we don’t really look like winning - but football is about working hard and keeping your head down and things can change quickly. I thought we started the game well, but at the minute we don’t look like we’re going to keep a clean sheet and that’s a worry.
“We’re trying different formations at the minute and we’re trying to get the best out of the players we’ve got in the squad. It’s easy to say who is not available and who has left the club but you’ve got to look forward", Cook added.
“We need a result and we have to get one quickly.” Cook may have been stating the obvious, but for a club with Setanta Cup and European adventures to look forward to, a tense battle for survival at the wrong end of the table is certainly not on their agenda. But they will get nothing easy on Friday night as the Tribesmen look to continue their renaissance under Ian Foster.

Referee: Alan Kelly