19.45 13 Mar 2015 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Sligo Rovers
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Mar 12 2015
DROGHEDA UNITED
Johnny McDonnell will take charge of his first home league game as Drogheda United Manager on Friday night, when Sligo Rovers travel to United Park to take on his Drogheda side.
McDonnell’s side enjoyed a positive start to the season last Saturday, as a solitary goal from new boy Daryl Kavanagh helped The Drogs to a winning start away at Bray Wanderers.
“It’s great to start off with a win, but the team’s performance pleased me even more,” McDonnell said regarding last week’s win over Bray.
“I thought that the players left it all on the pitch and I don’t think we had a single player that performed poorly on the day,” The Drogs boss added.
United crashed back down to earth on Monday night, as a goal from Shelbourne’s Mark Sandford sent The Drogs out of The EA Sports Cup at the first hurdle.
Despite the loss, McDonnell remains confident heading into Friday night’s tie with The bit o’red.
“It’s disappointing to be out of the Cup, but we made a number of changes from the Bray game and the players are still finding their feet.”
The ex-Shels Manager will be expecting a difficult game against Owen Heary’s Sligo Rovers side, a side in which McDonnell believes will be a real threat this season.
“It’s early doors but I think Sligo may surprise a few people this season,” McDonnell revealed.
“I’d imagine that they will be challenging up towards the top half of the table come the last few games of the season,” he furthered.
The Drogs are set to have a full bill of health for the visit of the bit o’red, with the exception of winter arrival Mark Hughes, who is set to miss out again with a hamstring problem.
SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo travel to Louth in search of their first league win of the season, after being cruelly denied by a late Ross Gaynor strike in last Saturday’s 1-1 draw with fellow title challengers Cork City.
Like their opponents, Sligo were also in action during the week, as Heary’s side, in which there was eight changes from last weekend’s draw with Cork City, rattled eight goals past a Mayo League side to book their place in the second round of The EA Sports Cup.
New Rovers boss Owen Heary has been happy with his side’s performance so far, but is hopeful that his squad can kick start their season away at Drogheda on Friday night.
“Overall I have been happy with the attitude shown by the players so far but we will look to hit the ground running in Drogheda,” Heary said.
“It’s good that players who came in that didn’t play in the first game did well and weren’t just disappointed not to have made the team,” Heary explained.
“They came in and looked to take their chance which is a positive for us.”
Heary acknowledges that Friday night’s trip to United Park will prove tough for Rovers. However, the ex-Bohemians defender and manager is hopeful that his side can earn all three points.
“They had a good start against Bray, they won the game and got their three points. They will be a tough team to break down but I expect them to have a go at us as well.
“So we just have to do our job and get the win which would put us ahead of them in the table, that’s our aim,” the new Rovers boss concluded.
A shoulder injury sustained in last Saturday’s trip will see Richard Brush miss the trip, while Jeff Henderson will continue to miss out with a foot injury, that will see him miss the first couple of months of the season.
The bit o’red have also announced that they are going to register former goalkeeper and current First Team Coach Ciaran Kelly as cover to Ryan Coulter.
Referee: Robert Harvey
MATCH STATS
October 19th 2012, was the last time Drogheda beat Sligo in the league at United Park, the year in which United finished runners up to Sligo in the Premier Division.
United’s last competitive win at United Park came against Derry City in August last year. That’s a run of seven games without a home win.
United Park was far from a happy hunting ground for Sligo Rovers boss Owen Heary during his time at Bohemians. Heary’s last win at the Louth venue came as a player, in a 1-0 win, back in May of 2011.
BETTING
Drogheda United 4/1; Draw 23/10; Sligo Rovers 8/11.
PREDICTION
Drogheda United 1-3 Sligo Rovers
Drogheda United
Injured: Mark Hughes.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Jeff Henderson (Foot), Richard Brush (Shoulder).
Doubtful: Ciaran Kelly (Completion of Registration).
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …