Sligo Rovers -v- UCD
Credit:
Sligo welcome UCD to The Showgrounds on Saturday night (KO 7.45)
having slipped to fifth in the league standings and eight points
adrift of Shamrock Rovers at the top of the Airtricity League. Points
dropped against Bohemians and St Patricks Athletic have served to
undermine last year's FAI Cup winners title challenge.
The students travel northwest to The Showgrounds third from bottom but remain considerably safe from any immediate relegation worries on 14 points, six more than the next side down, Drogheda United.
Sligo carry some injury concerns into the coming weeks and are without some key figures against UCD on Saturday evening. Derek Foran and Iarfhlaith Davoren are unavailable through injury and are joined by Gavin Peers following his red card in the defeat to St Patricks Athletic.
Michael Leahy will be missing from the Sligo trip for the Students after he got sent to the touchline against Shamrock Rovers. Goalkeeper Ger Barron and midfielder Robbie Creevy are both doubtful for the trip also.
Paul Cook, after seeing UCD defeat his team already this term is wary of the threat the students pose in Saturdays fixture, the manager stated "UCD beat us in the first meeting this season so we know how good they can be. They’ve had some great results and some very poor ones. On their day they can beat anybody and we’ll have to make sure we’re at the top of our game." Sligo have only been beaten once in their last five outings but injuries are starting to become apparent and Cook is conscious of the strenuous nature of the league, "The one thing we don’t want to do is get into an injury crisis. We’ve been lucky recently but this week it certainly does labour us and we can’t afford to get too many more.”
UCD have won their previous two away fixtures in the league but poor home form has seen the ridiculous mixed with the sublime and last week's 6-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers must still be fresh in the minds of the Students. Martin Russell is under no illusions as to the task of meeting the Bit O'Red and also the defensive frailties but, in a manner that Cook his opposite number will respect, he is determined to maintain the easy on the eye nature of the UCD game. "Sligo is one of the toughest place to go and get a result for any of the teams in the league. We are keen to try and improve on last week’s performance, we recognise that we have to defend better while still maintaining our style of play."
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Derek Foran,Iarfhlaith Davoren.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Gavin Peers
UCD
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ger Barron, Robbie Creevy.
Suspended: Michael Leahy.
Referee: Richie Winter
Paddy Power Odds: Home 2/9 Draw 9/2 Away 11/1
Extratime prediction: Sligo to keep the pressure up but not without a scare, 2-1 for the Bit O'Red
The students travel northwest to The Showgrounds third from bottom but remain considerably safe from any immediate relegation worries on 14 points, six more than the next side down, Drogheda United.
Sligo carry some injury concerns into the coming weeks and are without some key figures against UCD on Saturday evening. Derek Foran and Iarfhlaith Davoren are unavailable through injury and are joined by Gavin Peers following his red card in the defeat to St Patricks Athletic.
Michael Leahy will be missing from the Sligo trip for the Students after he got sent to the touchline against Shamrock Rovers. Goalkeeper Ger Barron and midfielder Robbie Creevy are both doubtful for the trip also.
Paul Cook, after seeing UCD defeat his team already this term is wary of the threat the students pose in Saturdays fixture, the manager stated "UCD beat us in the first meeting this season so we know how good they can be. They’ve had some great results and some very poor ones. On their day they can beat anybody and we’ll have to make sure we’re at the top of our game." Sligo have only been beaten once in their last five outings but injuries are starting to become apparent and Cook is conscious of the strenuous nature of the league, "The one thing we don’t want to do is get into an injury crisis. We’ve been lucky recently but this week it certainly does labour us and we can’t afford to get too many more.”
UCD have won their previous two away fixtures in the league but poor home form has seen the ridiculous mixed with the sublime and last week's 6-1 defeat to Shamrock Rovers must still be fresh in the minds of the Students. Martin Russell is under no illusions as to the task of meeting the Bit O'Red and also the defensive frailties but, in a manner that Cook his opposite number will respect, he is determined to maintain the easy on the eye nature of the UCD game. "Sligo is one of the toughest place to go and get a result for any of the teams in the league. We are keen to try and improve on last week’s performance, we recognise that we have to defend better while still maintaining our style of play."
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Derek Foran,Iarfhlaith Davoren.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Gavin Peers
UCD
Injured: None.
Doubtful: Ger Barron, Robbie Creevy.
Suspended: Michael Leahy.
Referee: Richie Winter
Paddy Power Odds: Home 2/9 Draw 9/2 Away 11/1
Extratime prediction: Sligo to keep the pressure up but not without a scare, 2-1 for the Bit O'Red
