By Daniel O'Connell
Champions Sligo Rovers host Dundalk in the Showgrounds (Tuesday 28th May kick off 7.45Pm), a fixture that was meant to have been played 18th of May, but due to torrential rainfall before the game the pitch was unplayable.
Sligo aren't on their best run at present with only one win in their last five and will be gunning for the three points tonight to get back top tonight having dropped into second place behind St.Patricks Athletic after their 0-0 draw away to Limerick.
Dundalk have been on better form of late with 3 wins in their last five but are on the back of a rough week after being defeated 1-0 in the EA Sports Cup by Shamrock Rovers Tuesday and then losing 3-2 at home to UCD. The Lilywhites record away from home in the league this season had been impressive with 5 wins from 6 with their only away league defeat being a 1-0 defeat away to Shamrock Rovers.
Views ahead of the game
Speaking about the game, Ian Baraclough acknowledged the threat that Dundalk pose: “I think both teams will see the game as a big opportunity. We gave ourselves a great platform in Oriel Park earlier in the season, we moved the ball well and were very clinical in front of goal to earn a 3-1 win.
“They will come here with no fear and play football and that should make it an entertaining game. When you create as many chances as we did against Limerick, there is a sense of frustration of not getting the victory. This game comes just a few days later and allows a chance to rid some of that.”
Speaking to dundalkfc.com, manager Stephen Kenny stated: “We want to put Friday behind us. The players gave everything they had and unfortunately it just didn’t happen. We didn’t deserve to lose the game and we created so many chances. It was frustrating but it’s a new challenge going to Sligo. We have been very consistent away from home with just the one defeat and we want to keep going. We have to dust ourselves down, go again and try get a result.”
Meanwhile, Captain Stephen O’Donnell stated “We had enough chances to win three games against UCD and the disappointing thing is that we only took two. We played well the whole game and were very unlucky. I suppose it is a good thing that we have a game so soon after and we want to put it right. No tougher game than the champions and no surprise they’re top again this year. They’ve got a fantastic squad but we’ll do our best to get something over there and hopefully we can.”
Team News
Sligo are without Lee Lynch (Hamstring) and Evan McMillan (Knee), They will also have to make do without Seamus Conneely and Danny North whom are just edging back from injuries.
The Lilywhites' only absentee is Chris Shields, whom is still out with a recurring knee injury.
The last time these sides met was back in 19th March in Oriel Park when Sligo came away victorious with a 3-1 win.
Betting: Sligo Rovers 8/15, Draw 13/5, Dundalk 11/2.
Verdict: Draw
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