Sligo Rovers -v- Galway United

• Alan Dooley
• Thu, Oct 08 2009


Sligo Rovers will hope to continue their recent run of good form tomorrow night when they host Connacht rivals Galway United (kick-off 8.00pm) at the Showgrounds. A critical win in midweek now has Paul Cook's men within touching distance of safety with 540 minutes of league action left to play out.

The two-goal victory in Inchicore on Tuesday night, courtesy of Raf Cretaro's third brace of the season, was crucial as, despite losing only one of their previous ten games in all competitions beforehand, Sligo had failed to beat either Bray or Drogheda and desperately needed a three point haul to keep St Pat's and Galway firmly in the play-off equation.

"If we had got beaten the bottom two would have been nine points adrift with six games to go," Cook stated afterwards. "It wouldn't have been insurmountable, but obviously it would have been very difficult. We have come here to attack, to get forward, to try to score some goals, and to be fair I thought we deserved our win."

Now, a win at home could possibly move them ahead of the Saints before another critical home tie with Bray next Tuesday. With Setanta and FAI Cup duties still to fulfil also, the fitness and depth of Cook's squad will be tested over the next four weeks. First choice 'keeper Richard Brush has been ruled out with a broken wrist, while Romauld Boco will be away on international duty tomorrow night.

Cook is well aware of the challenges that lie ahead: "It will be very difficult between now and the end of the season. Every game is a very hard game. There is no such thing as an easy game in a ten team League. All of sudden you will find yourself playing Bohemians, Shamrock Rovers or up in the Brandywell; there is nothing easy. What you have to do is grasp as many points as you can.

"I think we have ability, we have good players, we pass the ball well. We are on a good run at the minute, we have lost one in 11. We have a balanced team, a settled team, and I feel our front players will get us goals."

United enter this game seven points ahead of their rivals, a situation few would have predicted back in March. It is sometimes forgotten that this is Ian Foster's first year in management, such is the assured manner in which he has guided Galway throughout the season. Confidence is high, yet points are still required. Avoiding defeat tomorrow night will be a priority.

Foster's defensive options are boosted by the return of his central pairing following suspension, and both Shane Guthrie and Garry Breen will need to be vigilant to curb the threat of Cretaro and Matthew Blinkhorn. Seamus Conneely is absent on U21 duty, while the game may come a bit too soon for Iarfhlaith Davoren, who has made a speedy recovery from a hamstring injury.

"Sligo are an excellent side," Foster remarked after last Friday's win. "Cookie’s got all his big hitters back. I know Boco is missing but Seamus Conneely is missing for us as well, so that evens things up a little bit. It’ll be a good game, an interesting game. I imagine that they’ll be desperate to get all three points."

Following a 0-0 draw in Terryland Park, Rovers won 2-0 (Keane, Holmes) in the Showgrounds in May before Galway got revenge with a 1-0 win thanks to a John Russell goal. Russell was also sent off in this game, and suffered a similar fate in the loss at the Showgrounds.

extratime.ie Prediction: A score draw - 1-1.