Sligo Rovers -v- St. Patrick's Athletic

• Jessica Farry
• Sat, Jul 23 2011


League leaders Sligo Rovers will host fourth placed St. Patrick’s Athletic at The Showgrounds on Saturday for what promises to be a lively game. (Kick-off 7.45pm)

Sligo Rovers come in to this fixture after an 8-0 annihilation of Galway United. A hat-trick from Matthew Blinkhorn, a brace from Eoin Doyle, goals each for Richie Ryan and Raffaele Cretaro along with an own goal secured all three points for Paul Cook’s men.

Pete Mahon’s men are also in fine form having just won their place in the third round of the Europa League after victory over Shakhter Karagandy. The Saints took an away goal back to Richmond Park and it was there that they won 2-0.

Both sides will be playing European football in the coming week but will be concentrating on the league for this clash. A very early and a very late goal from striker Danny North gave Pats a hard fought victory the last time they met The Bit O’Red. North opened the scoring in the fourth minute but his goal was cancelled out by Alan Kirby’s equaliser just before half-time. The former Grimsby man struck a left-footed effort in to the goals in the 94th minute, crushing Sligo hearts. Sligo have not conceded a league goal since that game, meaning they have kept clean sheets in their last eight league outings.

Rovers once again have no injury worries and have no suspensions. Manager Paul Cook is looking for the same hunger that his side showed in Terryland Park last week: “Pat’s obviously had a game on Thursday night and it is a very quick turnaround. But that doesn’t automatically gives us an easy basis to win the game and I’m sure Pete Mahon will do all he can to keep his team fresh.

“We were very professional in Galway last week and were hungry enough to get eight goals. We need to show the same sort of desire to keep winning games. St Patrick’s Athletic are right up there with us. They are well-organised with good players and Pete has done a fine job and I know it is going to be a hard game. I think the players deserve to see The Showgrounds packed to capacity this weekend to try to help us keep our run going and give everyone a lift.”

Captain Conor Kenna will return to the starting 11 for Pete Mahon for the first time since the 11th of March. Brian Shortall and Derek Pender are both major doubts after they picked up knocks against Shakhter Karagandy. Mahon said that he will be changing things around: “We're obviously going to have to switch things around because you can't ask all the same players to play again 48 hours after last night's game. The European game took an awful lot out of us both mentally and physically so it's going to mean we have to bring other bodies in.

Derek Pender and Brian Shortall are touch and go but not looking good. The rest are ok but there are a few other walking wounded and we'll have to assess them in the morning before finalising the team. Playing the game so soon after last night's game is something that was beyond our control but when you see other clubs who are in Europe having games called off then it is a bit annoying. There'll be no bad blood between the teams or the clubs because we have an awful lot of respect for Sligo Rovers and I've no doubt it will be a good game tomorrow."

Sligo Rovers
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.

St. Patrick’s Athletic
Injured: None.
Doubtful : Brian Shortall, Derek Pender.
Suspended : None.

Referee: Damien Hancock.

Paddy Power odds: Sligo Rovers 8/13; Draw 5/2; Drogheda United 9/2

ExtraTime.ie prediction: Sligo Rovers to win 1-0.