League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

CORK CITY

Cork City will play host to Sligo Rovers on Monday evening  (kick-off 5pm) looking to bounce back quickly after their hugely disappointing defeat to close rivals Waterford F.C on Friday evening.

The 2-0 loss was City’s sixth defeat in just eleven league games so far this season with Caulfield’s side really struggling to build any momentum at all as the season continues to progress.

They haven’t tasted victory in the league since their 2-0 home victory against Bohs on March 15th and three points here would be very much welcomed around Turners Cross this evening as they look to start climbing the table.

Speaking to the media ahead of the game, manager John Caulfield said: “We are back at home, but we are on a very difficult run at the moment. I think we played very well in the first half on Friday in Waterford, and the game was on a knife-edge up to the 75th minute but, at the moment, we are not creating as many chances as we would like. It is a huge game for us but the team are giving everything; it has been a tough run for them.

“They are a young team and they are learning very quickly; there is great unity within the team but we need results. If you keep working hard, which we are doing, you will break your bad luck. It is a huge game for us tomorrow and we need that positive support right behind the lads from the start to help us turn this around.

“We will turn it around, but we need to do it urgently; the last number of games have been very disappointing but we are all determined to try and turn it around tomorrow.”

 

SLIGO ROVERS

Liam Buckley received a very warm welcome on his return to Richmond Park for the first time on Friday night.



However, the Bit O’Red returned to the West having succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, a result which leaves them just one ahead of UCD who currently occupy the relegation play-off place in ninth.

With such a hectic schedule in recent weeks and no sign of it easing, it is a great chance for Buckley’s squad to bounce back quickly and forget about Friday’s result.

Trying to contend with injuries, suspensions and fixture pile-ups is a problem that is all part of the job for a football manager and speaking to the media ahead of the game Buckley agreed it will be tricky but says the squad are in positive spirits ahead of the trip to Cork.

“We’ll look to be a lot better on Monday, we switched things around a bit in the second half on Friday and got a bit more of what we were looking for but overall we need to do more to get results.

“It’s all about recovery at the minute for the players that played on Friday. Then we have five or six doing a bit more and then lads with knocks or suspended or whatever. It’s tricky trying to manage that.

“Going to Cork; it’s a great place to play in, a good pitch and atmosphere, and these are two teams that really want to get up that table. I think it’s going to be a real scrap given where the teams are and where they want to be.



“We’re looking for three points and looking forward to going down there and trying to put in a better performance overall.”

Referee: Ray Matthews

 

MATCH STATS

Cork City and Sligo Rovers are both level on points in the league table ahead of this evening’s game. Both sides have taken just eleven points from a possible thirty three so far in the 2019 league season.

Cork have won just one home game so far this season losing two and sharing the points in two as well. Turners Cross normally such a fortress but just five points picked up from a possible fifteen to date.

Sligo Rovers have been disappointing on their travels so far this season picking up just four points from a possible fifteen away from home.

 

BETTING

Cork City 4/7; Draw 13/5; Sligo Rovers 9/2

PREDICTION

Cork City 2-1 Sligo Rovers

 

Cork City:

Injured:  Colm Horgan, Cian Murphy, Karl Sheppard, Alan Bennett

Doubtful:

Suspended:  None

Sligo Rovers:

Injured: Kyle Callan- McFadden

Doubtful: Romeo Parkes

Suspended: Ronan Murray