Sligo Rovers FC -v- Dundalk FC

• Keith Wallace
• Fri, Apr 03 2009


Dundalk could be down to a squad of just ten senior outfield players for their trip to face Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds on Saturday night (kick-off 8pm) as they look for their first away point of the season. The Lilywhites have lost three of their opening four games, however, European hopefuls Sligo too have struggled, taking just two points from a possible 12.

Bare bones
Visiting boss Sean Connor, who managed Sligo to the First Division title in 2005, begins his four-match touchline ban this weekend and, after losing his appeal against that suspension on Wednesday, his plans have been further disrupted by the news that he could be without captain Thomas Heary, Declan O’Brien, Simon Kelly and Michael McGinlay, who are all rated as “doubtful”. If none of the quartet pull through, Dundalk will have just three recognised defenders and no senior outfield substitutes available.

‘Intense period’
Connor, though, is going to give the four players every opportunity to make the match as Dundalk prepare for the first of three games in a six-day period. “At the moment, Thomas Heary, Declan O'Brien, Simon Kelly and Michael McGinlay are doubtful but no decisions will be made until [Saturday] to give them as much time as possible to be ready,” Connor said. “It's the start of an intense period with three important games in six days. We are looking forward to trying to put some more points on the board.

Familiar territory
“We were disappointed with some elements of our performance against St. Pat’s last week,” he added, “and have worked hard in training to put these issues right. It's going to be a very hard game. Paul Cook has done a great job in Sligo and I know from my own experiences how hard it is for a visiting team to get anything from the Showgrounds. However, there is a real impetus in our team to start moving up the league table. We have lost our two away games so far and it is something that we wish to correct as soon as possible. I am starting my four-match ban but it will not have any impact on the team's performance.”

Form book
Dundalk’s sole win of the campaign came at home to near neighbours Drogheda United (3-0) a fortnight ago after successive 1-0 defeats to Bohemians and Galway United in the opening two weeks. Last Friday, however, the Lilywhites were unable to build on their Louth derby win as they went down 2-0 at Saint Patrick’s Athletic. Simultaneously, Sligo were ending a two-game losing streak as they bounced back from losses against Shamrock Rovers and St. Pat’s with a scoreless draw at Galway, after picking up their only other point on the opening night at home to Cork City (1-1).

Boco boost
As well as their aforementioned worries, Dundalk’s one definite absentee for the trip west is midfielder Mickey Collins who is still awaiting international clearance following his move from Newry City. Sligo, meanwhile, are without former Finn Harps striker Stephen Parkhouse (ankle) and centre-half Danny Ventre, who serves an automatic one-match ban following his straight red card in Galway, while defenders Chris Butler and Mauro Almeida remain sidelined. Cook, however, has forward Romuald Boco, who has been on international duty with Benin, and midfielder Rafael Cretaro available once more.

extratime.ie prediction: Sligo to grab their first win of the season. 1-0.