League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Drogheda United

• Gareth O'Reilly
• Sat, May 16 2015




SLIGO ROVERS

The pressure is continuing to mount on Sligo Rovers boss Owen Heary as his side continue to balance themselves precariously in tenth position in the SSE Airtricity League table heading into this clash against Drogheda United on Saturday night.

 

There is some positive team news for the Bit o’Red as they can welcome back Morton Neilson and Gavin Peers to the side. The two absentees for the men in red and white are Jeff Henderson and Jake Dykes, with the latter suffering a hamstring injury last time out against Cork City.

 

“It’s good to have Gavin back. He is one of our most experienced players. He is a good defender and a good leader over a long number of years. It’s great that he is fully recovered and can come back into the squad for tomorrow,” said Heary.

 

Drogheda also playrf Cork in their last fixture and Johnny McDonnell’s men saw three red cards shown to their team with one given after the final whistle had blown.

 

“They are a young team a bit like us so with them missing some experienced players like Alan Byrne and Daryl Kavanagh hopefully that’s something we can take advantage of. I think we are going into this game with a good chance of getting the three points.”

 

Sligo have shipped twenty one goals this season and the former League of Ireland winning captain is keen to tighten up his sides defence.

 

“It’s a lack of concentration. You have to drill it into the younger players especially. They have to concentrate for the full 90 minutes and beyond. You need to be switched on all the time for every moment in the game. But they will learn that from playing at a higher level.”

 

 

DROGEHDA UNITED

United were comfortably beaten in the end by Cork on Monday night but the score line does not reflect the first half performance of Drogheda, in a game which they entered the interval up by one goal.

 

"Our decision making on the night was poor and Schlingermann, who has been excellent for us all season, knows he made a mistake in positioning the wall and then we didn't deal with the corner. They scored three goals with five minutes left and none had come from open play.

 

"Our first half performance was excellent but once they scored early in the second half, it was always going to be difficult."

 

McDonnell’s side may have being on the receiving end of a defeat and three red cards in Turners Cross but the former Shels boss does not believe that there is a discipline problem rife within his squad.

 

"We are down to the bare bones due to the suspensions. I have some sympathy for Shane Dunne as it was a honest tackle that was a little late while Alan Byrne was blocking a shot that hit him in the chest and he was sent off for handball. Daryl Kavanagh's red card on the other hand was poor from him and he knows that's not good enough."

 

Drogheda will be without the suspended trio of Shane Dunne, Daryl Kavanagh and Alan Byrne. Neil Yadolahi and Stephen Maher also remain side-lined for the County Louth side, while Lloyd Buckley is struck down with the flu and has been labelled as doubtful for the tie.

 

Referee: Graham Kelly

 

 

MATCH FACTS

The last time Rovers kept a clean sheet against Drogs in the league was all the way back in 2011.

 

Drogehda have only won in the Showgrounds once over the course of the last fourteen meetings.

 

There have been twenty draws between these two sides in the Showgrounds and thirty seven overall.

 

 

BETTING
Sligo Rovers 4/9; Draw 3/1; Drogheda United 13/2.

 

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 1-1 Drogheda Untied.

 

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Jeff Henderson, Jake Dykes (hamstring).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Drogheda United

Injured: Neil Yadolahi, Stephen Maher.

Doubtful: Lloyd Buckley (flu).

Suspended: Daryl Kavanagh, Alan Byrne, Shane Dunne.