19.45 17 Apr 2015 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
League Preview: Longford Town -v- Sligo Rovers
- Dave Donnelly
- Fri, Apr 17 2015
LONGFORD TOWN
Defeat at Bohemians last Friday brought to an end a four-game unbeaten streak for newly-promoted Longford Town, but coach Tony Cousins won't be too despondent to see his team lie in sixth place having played four of the top five teams in their opening seven fixtures.
Indeed, were it not for a very questionable decision that saw Gary Shaw booked for diving rather than being awarded a first-half penalty, the midlands club could easily have come away from Dalymount Park with a positive result.
Those are the fine margins that determine games at the highest level, but Cousins can take heart from the fact his side have largely come out on the right side of those margins, and even in defeat continued to create chances as Shaw, in particular, has adapted well to Premier Division football.
SLIGO ROVERS
Owen Heary's miserable start to life at Sligo Rovers took a turn for the better as he registered a first win, away at Galway United, last Friday night.
The win lifted the Bit o'Red off the foot of the table, but the addition of Joseph Ndo and Liam O'Brien to the coaching team during the week suggests those behind the scenes aren't convinced the corner has been turned just yet. Heary's critics have pointed to uninspired football – Ndo and O'Brien certainly won't lack inspiration – but the team are unlikely to change too much from the shape they've been preparing for all year.
In normal circumstances, a trip to a newly-promoted club would be the make it two successive wins, but the Longford side is packed with Premier Division quality and Heary will need players like Morton Nielsen, Eoin Wearen and Dinny Corcoran to start producing the goods in red shirt or else his position will once again come under strain.
Referee: Robert Harvey
MATCH STATS
Longford Town and Sligo Rovers haven't met in over seven years when Longford were last in the Premier Division. Sligo won two of three games that season, while the final game at Flancare Park ended in a 1-1 draw.
In all, the teams have met 20 times, with Longford winning just twice in that time, the midlanders' last win coming in 1989.
BETTING
Longford Town 21/10; Draw 23/10; Sligo Rovers 5/4.
PREDICTION
Longford Town 1 – 1 Sligo Rovers
Longford Town
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Jeff Henderson (foot), Gavin Peers (groin), Ryan McManus (groin), Steven Beattie (hamstring).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None