League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

Bottom of the table Cork City welcome in-form Sligo Rovers to Turners Cross for a pivitol game in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Friday evening (kick-off 7.45pm).

CORK CITY

The Rebels will be aiming to claw their way off the foot of the table with a much needed win on home soil when they take on the Bit O’Red under the Friday night lights.

Neale Fenn is hoping that his charges can follow up their last gasp 1-0 victory over Longford Town at Turner’s Cross in the FAI Cup last Tuesday evening. It was a very tense affair with both sides going at it hammer and tongs.

However, it was the defences that came out on top and the game ended 0-0 after normal time.

It was more of the same in the second half with both teams becoming fatigued.

The game looked destined for a penalty shoot-out until Ricardo Dinanga broke Longford hearts and conjured up the winning goal in the last minute of extra-time to book the Rebels safe passage into the next round and a plum tie against rampant league leaders Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght Stadium.

Cork City extended their mini unbeaten run to two matches in all competitions with the cup win following on from a hard fought point, which was earned in a 0-0 draw against Waterford at the Regional Sports Centre last Saturday.

City made a dreadful start to the season having lost their first three league matches against Shelbourne (0-1), Shamrock Rovers (6-0) and Dundalk (3-0), but picked up their first win against Finn Harps (1-0) but then lost their next two games against St. Patrick’s Athletic (1-0) and Bohemians (0-1).

City boss Neale Fenn was in buoyant mood ahead of the game and spoke of the positive approach his side intend to take to get a win at his press conference earlier in the week saying,

“It’s a game we believe we can win, and it’s a game we will try and win. It won’t be easy, Sligo Rovers are a very good team with a great manager so we just need to make sure that we concentrate on ourselves and do what we can do, and we’ll see how that takes us.”

Fenn was delighted to receive an added bonus this week ahead of the Sligo game with the return of duo Scott Fenwick and Kit Elliott for selection having completed their mandatory quarantine period.

“That gives us options. I’ve said for a while that we’ve been lacking in that area through injuries. Cian Murphy has been playing up there, and he’s done well. Ricardo came on, on Tuesday, and he’s shown us that he can play up there, so now we have two more options.”

Fenn has mixed fortunes where injuries are concerned with Cian Bargary and Cory Galvin looking set to join long-term casualties Rory Doyle and Conor Davis having sustained knocks in the Longford and Waterford matches respectively.

Gearoid Morrissey could be available having participated in training earlier this week while Deshane Dalling returns after serving out his suspension.

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit O’Red travel to the Rebel County in search of a third consecutive league win that would put themselves five points clear of the drop zone.

Sligo made it two wins on the spin in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division when they overcame Shelbourne 2-1 at the Showgrounds last Saturday afternoon.

Liam Buckley’s side couldn’t have wished for a better start taking the lead just 30 seconds after the whistle blew when Jesse Devers rose highest to dispatch a cross from Ryan De Vries from six yards out.

It was a hammer blow for Shels who never really fully recovered after that early setback and Sligo were arguably the better side but could not add to their advantage before the interval.

The Bit O’Red made a frenetic start to the second half when they went 2-0 ahead when David Cawley scored from close range.

Shelbourne threw the kitchen sink at their opponents but could only manage a consolation goal in injury time when Gary Deegan dispatched the ball into the net from the edge of the box.

The result was enough to help Sligo move off the bottom of the table and it was the Bit O’Red’s second win in a row since the restart of the league, having picked up an impressive 2-0 win over Derry City at the Brandywell the previous weekend.

Speaking to Sligo Rovers website Bit O’Red boss Liam Buckley spoke about what he expects from Cork.

“I think when you look at the table and where the teams are then it is a six-pointer. We’re expecting a very hard game. There’s very little between seven or eight sides in the division. Cork got through in the FAI Cup which will lift them and they haven’t conceded a goal in consecutive games as well. Neale is trying to impose a style of play, it doesn’t happen overnight and they will improve throughout the year.”

Buckley was naturally pleased with the result and his side’s progress since the restart saying,

“I see more improvement in this group as well. We’re doing very well individually and it’s collectively of a passing game and ball retention that we’re looking to get up to speed. I do see it coming, especially since the restart, but it can get better. We’re asking for more because we know it is in us. We’ve won two games, this league will grant you no favours so we have no choice but to improve if we want to get up the table and be consistent in our performances and results.”

The injury news makes for somewhat grim reading for Liam Buckley with John Mahon and Johnny Dunleavy both out injured while Garry Buckley, Will Seymore and Lewis Banks are all doubtful ahead of the trip to Cork.

Referee: Robert Harvey

MATCH FACTS

The sides met three times in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division last season with the first two games ending in draws (0-0 at Turner’s Cross and 1-1 at the Showgrounds) with the Bit O’Red winning the final game 4-2 in Cork.

Cork City and Sligo Rovers have met each other 39 times in all competitions since the 2005 season with the Rebels boasting the superior head to head record with 17 wins to the Bit O’Red’s 10 and 12 draws.

Cork City scored 50 goals averaging 1.28 per game while Sligo Rovers scored 37 goals averaging 0.95 per game.

BETTING

Cork City 23/10; Draw 15/8; Sligo Rovers 11/10.

PREDICTION

Cork City 2-2 Sligo Rovers

Cork City

Injured: Conor Davis, Rory Doyle, Cory Galvin, Cian Bargary.

Doubtful: Gearoid Morrissey.

Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: John Mahon, Johnny Dunleavy.

Doubtful: Garry Buckley, Will Seymore, Lewis Banks.

Suspended: None.