League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- St Patrick's Athletic

• Andrew Dempsey
• Fri, Feb 21 2020




SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers get their home campaign underway on Friday evening as they host St Patrick’s Athletic at the Showgrounds (kick-off is at 7.45pm).  

The Bit O’Red suffered an opening day defeat away to Finn Harps, and manager Liam Buckley is hoping for a reaction of sorts this week. 

“It was a sub-standard performance by both us and Harps last week in truth,” Buckley told his club’s media team. 

“The pitch didn’t help but that isn’t an excuse, we lost the game and you just have to take what you can and move on and we have done.

 “We want a performance from the lads. I know my expectation of them and what they are capable of.  It’s a lot different from what we saw last week, so I’m looking for them to go out and show it.

“We’ve stayed off our pitch for over 16 weeks and trained on it on Tuesday for the first time. It’s playing well and hopefully the weather is good on Friday night.

“Pat’s were beaten last week so they’ll be looking at this one certainly to get a result. We have to be at it from the start and we’ve had a good week of training to prepare for it.

“We’ve been beset by injuries in defence and it is bad luck when you consider the impact injuries we have had in pre-season.

“In essence we are missing an entire back four of first-choice players so that is difficult to manage with a squad of our size. But what can you do? You get on with it, and more so, we stick together first and foremost.”

In terms of team news, Danny Kane, John Mahon and Regan Donelon will all miss out with injury, while Lewis Banks is rated as a doubt. 

ST PATRICK’S ATHLETIC

After suffering an opening day defeat to Waterford at Richmond Park, Saints boss Stephen O’Donnell is hoping that his side will react well to their defeat last time out.

"It's a busy week in the sense that we play Friday, Monday and then Friday again,” O’Donnell said to his club’s media team.  

“We play Sligo, and then you're quickly moving into the other two games in the space of a week so it's going to be a very busy schedule, so it is important to get a good platform and a good structure within the week.

“It's important to get a good training week in as there won't be much training in between the games as there will be a lot of recovery after each game.

"But first and foremost we have Sligo away. It's always a tough place to go and you never get anything easy, but we are really looking forward to the game.”

And winger Billy King added; “The Waterford game was a bit hectic at the start as the ball was a bit like pinball. But I felt in the second half I came into it.

“I'm still getting used to playing with the other boys a bit as I'm learning about their games and what they like to do.

“But I was disappointed that I never got a goal as I had two good chances. All the boys were disappointed with the result but we need to pick ourselves up and go again on Friday.”

Pats are set to have a clean bill of health for their trip westwards on Friday evening.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

 

MATCH STATS

St Patrick’s Athletic have won three of the last four games between the two sides, with their last defeat against the Bit O’Red coming in June 2018.

Sligo are winless in the league since September 2019 when they saw off UCD at the UCD Bowl by two goals to nil.

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 11/5; Draw 2/1; St Patrick’s Athletic 6/5.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 1 - 1 St Patrick’s Athletic

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Danny Kane, John Mahon, Regan Donelon.

Doubtful: Lewis Banks.

Suspended: None.

 

St Patrick’s Athletic

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.