League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Bohemians

SLIGO ROVERS

It’s been a busy week for the Bit O’Red, in the first Connaught derby of the season on Monday night they fought back to earn a deserved point against Galway United. The tribesmen took an early lead through Ronan Murray but Kieran Sadlier equalised 10 minutes before the break.

On Wednesday evening it was announced that Sligo and Dave Robertson had mutually agreed to part ways. With just one victory from their opening seven games and Rovers struggling at the foot of the table, the club felt they needed to take action to ensure their Premier Division survival. 

Declan McIntyre will take temporary charge of first team duties as the board begin their search for a new manager. McIntyre, who was assistant to Robertson and a former Rovers player, was in reflective mood when speaking to sligorovers.com.

“This is a situation where you just have to keep going. The atmosphere was not bad or the dressing-room inharmonious in the run-up and the players were devastated for Dave this week.

“We all had faith in him so it’s hard for us all. To be fair to the players they have been performing well in training in the last few days and they are always in good spirits so we approach this game looking to carry on what we have been doing.”

With three of the four clubs around them losing last night, this game brings even greater importance as a win would put them level on points with 9^th place Finn Harps.

In team news, Daniel Kearns is out with a head injury picked up against Galway on Monday night while Mark Hannon is likely to miss out due to a chest infection.

BOHEMIANS

The Phibsborough side face the long trip west as they go in search of a second successive away win. After a 4-0 home drubbing last time out in the league against Dublin rivals St Pat’s, Keith Long will be looking for a much improved performance from his side this weekend. "Pat's were better than us, we were far too easy to play against."

Bohs did bounce back from the disappointment of that defeat with 1-0 EA Sports Cup win against Cabinteely on Tuesday night.

With a title challenge looking unlikely even at this early stage, a win would put them in the mix for a highly coveted European spot.

Injuries are mounting for Long and he has added three further under-19 players to the travelling squad. Kian Clarke, Paddy Kirk and Jamie Hamilton join Steven Nolan in making the step up. Top scorer Dinny Corcoran remains out with a knee injury along with Ian Morris (knee), Jamie Doyle (quad), Stephen Bust (bug) as well as long-term absentees Eoin Wearen (cruciate) and Izzy Akinade (surgery to remove spleen). 

In better news, goalkeeper Shane Supple, who was forced off during last week’s defeat to Pat’s, is fit to start as is skipper Derek Pender and Dean Casey.

Long is demanding Bohs up their game this weekend, "Sligo will have pride as a group and feel they have something to prove. They probably feel they are in a false position in the league. 

"It will be a tough game - I've no doubt they will have targeted this fixture."

Referee: Robert Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Sligo have won 10 out of the last 23 meetings between the clubs with Bohs recording 7 victories. Rovers won the corresponding fixture last season by a single goal while The Gypsies won both their home fixtures by the same margin.

League Form:

Sligo Rovers DLWLD

Bohemians   LWDWW

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 13/10; Draw 11/5; St Patrick’s Athletic 11/5 .

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 2–1 Bohemians

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Daniel Kearns (head)

Doubtful: Mark Hannon (chest infection)

Suspended: None

Bohemians

Injured: Dinny Corcoran (knee), Ian Morris (knee), Jamie Doyle (quad), Stephen Bust (bug), Eoin Wearen (knee), Izzy Akinade (spleen)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None