Sligo Rovers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic

• Alan Smith
• Fri, Oct 29 2010


Sligo Rovers entertain St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds on Friday night, with a Europa League place at stake (kick-off 7.45pm).

The Bit O’ Red will be the favourites to wrap up third spot however, as they find themselves three points ahead of Pats, though Sporting Fingal are also just a single point behind the westerners and they face UCD.

It means the cup specialists will need a win to guarantee European football next year, but the omens aren’t good as the sides face each other for the seventh time this season.

Pats have held a slight hex over Paul Cook’s side with three wins this year (two coming in the Setanta Cup and one in the league) as Sligo have won just a solitary game (in the league cup), while the last two league games have been scoreless.

The away side do still have a realistic chance of getting third place, because they’re only a goal behind Sligo in terms of goal difference. Of course, fourth place will also be good enough for either Fingal or Pats if Sligo stay in third because the cup final winners are automatically entered into the Europa League too.

Heading into the game, Pats manager Pete Mahon said: “It’s the final game of the season and a must win match for us if we are to qualify for Europe. A lot of effort has gone in to the season so it would be very disappointing if we had nothing to show at the end of it all.

“Sligo are everybody’s form team at the moment but we beat them down there already this season in the Setanta Cup semi-final so we are well capable of getting a good result.”

Mahon will have a full squad to choose from for the trip west, while Sligo welcome back Jim Lauchlan from suspension, although Richard Brush and Mauro Almeida remain long-term absentees.

A large crowd is expected at the Showgrounds, so Sligo have warned supporters to arrive early.

Paddypower.com odds: Sligo 19/20, Draw 5/2, Pat’s 5/2.

Sligo Rovers:
Injured: Mauro Almeida, Richard Brush
Suspended: none
Doubtful: none

St Patrick’s Athletic:
Injured: none
Suspended: none
Doubtful: none

Referee: N Doyle
Extratime.ie Prediction: Sligo to edge it and guarantee third spot; 2-1.