Dundalk -v- Sligo Rovers

• Emmet Maloney
• Thu, May 20 2010


This clash between Dundalk and Sligo Rovers (kick off 7.45pm) brings the Airtricity Premier League’s Liverpudlian managers head to head. So if any agro starts on the touch line a shout of “calm down, calm down” from the stand should do the job.

Dundalk Expect a Tough One
The Achilles heel in the Dundalk home record so far has been their performance against low placed opposition, as they have only picked up two points in total from their games against Bray, Drogheda and Galway at Oriel.

Lilywhites Communications Manager Colm Crosson explained that they hope to get back to winning ways whilst not underestimating the opposition. “It’s an important game, after only taking one point from the six on offer (from games against Pats & Galway), it’s important to get both the result and the performance. “

When pressed on the Lilywhites inability to put away teams from the lower reaches of the division he said “I wouldn’t regard Sligo as being a team at the bottom of the table, whatever about their present league position they are certainly not a bottom four team. They’ve been tough to beat and they’ve got their scoring boots on in the last two games.”

Tom Miller and Wayne Hatswell are both suspended and this will unbalance the Lilywhites defensive solidity as well as lessen the threat they pose from set pieces.

Six of the Best Again?
Sligo Rovers have hit the goal-scoring trail in spectacular fashion in the last two games after scoring six goals against Letterkenny, Rovers and Drogheda United. It might be reading too much into their performance in those games to think that they will now go tearing through the upcoming fixtures, but the players confidence will be up as they take a decent away record to the East Coast.

Only St Pats have beaten the Bit O Red on their travels this season and with an encouraging recent record at Oriel Dundalk will have to be on top form to join them. Padraig Amond has hit five of 12 recent goals and will be aiming to give a rearranged Dundalk defense a stern examination. They will of course have to play with their manager Paul Cook observing from the sidelines.

Tough One to Call
Sligo have proven to be very difficult to beat on the road this season and Dundalk have a dip in form. The visitors have a good record at Oriel in their recent meetings and Dundalk sometimes find it hard to beat teams from the bottom quarter. It all seems to be pointing towards a tight drawn game.

Sligo Rovers:
Suspended: Paul Cook
Injured: Mauro Almeida (achillies)
Doubtful: Matthew Blinkhorn (unspecified knock), Iarfhlaith Davoren (hamstring)

Extratime.ie Prediction:1-1 More dropped points at Oriel I fear.towards a tight drawn game.

Venue: Oriel Park, Dundalk

Paddypower.com Odds: Dundalk 6/5, Draw 11/5, Sligo Rovers 11/5

Referee: Terry Connolly

Dundalk:
Suspended: Tom Miller, Wayne Hatswell
Injured: none
Doubtful: Garry Breen (unspecified knock)

Sligo Rovers:
Suspended: Paul Cook
Injured: Mauro Almeida (achillies)
Doubtful: Matthew Blinkhorn (