League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- UCD

SLIGO ROVERS

The Bit O’Red will be hoping to get back to winning ways on Friday evening when they host a skeleton UCD side at the Showgrounds on Monday evening (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

Sligo fell to a bitterly disappointing two-nil defeat away to Finn Harps in Ballybofey last time out having only lost one in their previous nine prior to that.

A Nathan Boyle double secured all three points for the Co. Donegal side who condemned Rovers to their fourth game on the spin without a win.

With their last win coming over Bohemians at Dalymount Park in May, Sligo boss Liam Buckley is hoping his side can improve dramatically from their Finn Park disappointment.

“It was very poor last Friday. We needed better drive, better dynamism, better work-rate,” the former St Patrick’s Athletic boss said.  

“If you don’t have those things in this league you will get turned over and we got turned over. Results elsewhere meant it was a defeat that hurt us in the table as well. 

“That’s our first task going into this game, that our previous levels of work-rate return. We have never had a lack of work-rate before with this team and on Monday there is the chance at least to show it was a bad night. I’m looking for a big improvement. 

“I’m expecting a hard game from UCD. I don’t know exactly what team we can put out, that’ll be looked at before the game, but whichever team goes out there, they know that to win the game we need to be much better, so we go into it looking to be.”

In terms of team news for Sligo, Daryl Fordyce, Ronan Coughlan and Regan Donelon are all considered doubtful for the visit of UCD.

Sam Warde is ineligible as his permanent transfer will only go through on Monday, meaning the necessary paperwork will not arrive in time.

UCD

Ravaged by a morale-sapping run, player departures and injuries, UCD make the daunting trip up to Sligo on Monday evening.

The Students have lost their last eleven games on the bounce, leaving Collie O’Neill’s side rooted to the bottom of the table, 13 points from safety.

After the departures of Gary O’Neill and Neil Farrugia last week, the Students task got even tougher over the weekend with news that Conor Davis has left the club to join Derry City.

Collie O’Neill also confirmed that defender Liam Scales is set to join Bristol Rovers in the coming days during the aftermath of Friday night’s defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic.

With the UCD boss dampening speculation that he is looking to recruit from outside the club, players from the club’s under-19 squad are expected to join the first-team squad.

In addition, back-up ‘keeper Gavin Sheridan will miss out on the trip to Sligo due to his involvement in the World University Games.

Defender Josh Collins may also miss out with a groin injury, joining long-term absentee Evan Osam on the treatment table.

Dara Keane and Jack Ryan are also both expected to miss out on the visit to the Showgrounds while Aaron McGrath is unavailable.

Dan Tobin is however expected to return from suspension having missed out on Friday’s defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic due to an accumulation of yellow cards.   

Referee: Damien MacGraith.

MATCH STATS

The last meeting between the two sides resulted in a 2 - 0 win for Sligo Rovers at the UCD Bowl in February. David Cawley scored direct from a corner kick late on after Dante Leverock opened the scoring in the second half.  

UCD have lost their previous eleven games on the bounce with their last win coming at home to Cork City in April.

The Students most recent win over their Connacht opponents came in July 2014 while their most recent win at the Showgrounds came in August 2006.

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 2/5; Draw 10/3; UCD 13/2.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 2 - 0 UCD

Sligo Rovers

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Regan Donelon, Ronan Coughlan, Daryl Fordyce.

Suspended: None.

Unavailable: Sam Warde.

UCD

Injured: Josh Collins, Dara Keane, Jack Ryan, Evan Osam.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

Unavailable: Gavin Sheridan, Aaron McGrath.