League Preview: UCD -v- Sligo Rovers

• Andrew Dempsey
• Mon, Apr 29 2019




UCD

UCD will hope to shrug off their recent malaise as they host fellow basement battlers Sligo Rovers at the UCD Bowl on Monday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Students were unable to bounce back on Friday night against St Patrick’s Athletic from their most recent 3-1 home defeat to Dundalk with a 2-0 defeat in Inchicore.

Man of the Match Ciaran Kelly opened the scoring for the Saints while Mikey Drennan made sure of all three points late on for Harry Kenny’s side.

However, the Students will take confidence from their most recent encounter against the Bit o’ Red, having dominated for vast swathes of the game at the Showgrounds in March.

With plenty of talk around the futures of Liam Scales and Neil Farrugia following their invitation to a trial with Manchester City, the Students will be acutely aware that they are a side to be feared.

Collie O’Neill’s charges also have quite a good home record against the sides around them in the league table having defeated Waterford, Cork and Finn Harps at the UCD Bowl recently.

Evan Osam is the only player to miss out after O’Neill suggested the attacking full-back will miss the entire season with a ruptured achilles.

SLIGO ROVERS

Seeking to bounce back from their disappointing, yet valuable draw against Finn Harps, Sligo Rovers make the trip to the UCD Bowl to face ninth placed UCD.

The Bit o’ Red fell to defeat upon their last outing in the capital and Sligo boss Liam Buckley admits he is expecting a very difficult clash at the Belfield venue.

“UCD were fantastic when they were in The Showgrounds, so I have no doubt they will be up for this one again,” he told the club’s media team.

“That is the result that separates the team in the table so there is nothing between us really at the moment.

“We’ve a couple of niggles but overall the lads have recovered well, and we go there looking to get a much better performance.”

Kyle Callan McFadden is the only doubt for the north-westerners as Buckley reports that he should have a fully fit squad to choose from come Monday evening.

Referee: Sean Grant.

MATCH STATS

The last meeting between the two sides resulted in a 1-0 win for Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds in February. Romeo Parkes scored the winner for the Bit O’Red on that occasion.

UCD have lost three of their last four games, having conceded eight goals in their last three outings.

The Students most recent win over their Connacht opponents came in their last home league game against Sligo.

Ex-Student Samir Belhout scored the winner on that occasion for the then Aaron Callaghan-managed side. 

BETTING

UCD 11/8; Draw 11/5; Sligo Rovers 15/8.

PREDICTION

UCD 2 – 0 Sligo Rovers.

UCD

Injured: Evan Osam.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Kyle Callan-McFadden.

Suspended: None.