Sligo Rovers -v- Derry City

• Gareth Penrose
• Mon, Aug 10 2009


Derry City will look to keep in touch with the top three of the League of Ireland Premier Division as they travel for the first of two clashes in five days to relegation threatened Sligo Rovers on Tuesday night (kick-off 19:45).

Sligo Rovers’ season has taken a nose dive in the last two months , as the Bit O'Red have earned only four points which has seen them descend into a dogfight at the pit of the Division with Drogheda United and Bray Wanderers. Last Saturday night, Paul Cook’s men led 3-1 against Dundalk only for to see that lead lost through goals from Tiernan Mulvenna and Chris Turner, with the latter netting a late winner for the Louth side.

Cook has injury worries over Gavin Peers and Ger Raffter heading into the game, but has no other selection headaches to deal with.

With European adventures over for another season, Stephen Kenny’s Derry City return their focus back on the league. The Candystripes are five points behind Cork City with a game in hand and will be eyeing this fixture as an opportunity to keep the pressure on the Rebel Army’s hold on third place.

League form has been appalling for Derry in recent weeks, with only one point from a possible 15. Kenny has an almost injury free squad, but still expects a tough challenge from Sligo.

"It's as strong a squad as we've had available in around 3 months and we are keen to get back to winning ways in the league and so therefore we have to put in a strong performance. Sligo will be tough opponents, they've signed 7 players in the transfer window, there aren't too many teams doing that at the minute. It should be a good open game and we have them again in the Cup at the weekend, so we have to make sure we come out on the right side of both of those games.”

Derry will be without Liam Kearney (broken leg), Mark McChrystal (cheek bone) and Sammy Morrow (ankle ligaments) for the game but have no suspensions.

Extratime.ie Prediction: Derry to win 2-1