League Preview: St. Patrick's Athletic -v- Sligo Rovers

ST. PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St. Patrick's Athletic's season is teetering toward a bitter end following two home losses in three at the hands of Bohemians and Cork City, the results putting the Saints European adventures for next season on a temporary hiatus.

Monday's loss at Richmond Park meant Liam Buckley's side would have to wait at least another week before confirming their spot in Europe for next summer following Bohemians win over Friday's opponents Sligo Rovers last Saturday at the Showgrounds.

Pats were 2-0 down after twenty-three minutes on Monday after Steven Beattie's goal was added to by Danny Morrissey before Aaron Greene pulled back a late consolation in the dying stages.

Manager Liam Buckley has said he expects a tough game from the relegation-threatened Sligo.

“Sligo will be tough opponents on Friday. They always come to Inchicore and have a go to try and win the game”, he said speaking to stpatsfc.com.

“That being the case, we're expecting a challenge from them on Friday. Both teams have to go out and win the game for their respective goals in the season.”

Pats will go into Friday's showdown with happier a sentiment in mind, with midfield ace James Chambers voted into the PFAI Team of the Year on Thursday.

Nevertheless they will remain without the injured Brendan Clarke who remains out with a broken finger, but will welcome back skipper Ger O'Brien while both Jason McGuinness and Greg Bolger face late fitness tests.

A win for Liam Buckley's side will present them the prize of playing in European competition for the sixth consecutive year, adding to their EA Sports Cup victory over Galway last month with only two games in the Premier Division remaining as Pats try to improve their recent record of one win in their last seven games.

SLIGO ROVERS

The relegation battle has reached its penultimate stage in the Premier Division, with Sligo Rovers playing an inextricable role in the drama.

Following a satisfying run of four wins in seven games in all competitions following their shock loss at the hands of Limerick back in August, Sligo have once again snagged themselves and fallen back into the relegation scrap.

One point from their last three Premier Division games has seen the Bit O'Red descend into 10th spot, a mere two points above bottom-placed Limerick.

Micky Adams side's meeting with the revived Blues in two weeks’ time will set the relegation narrative pulsing with drama were Sligo to lose this Friday night.

Indeed they will take some comfort in their opponent's own recent woe that this meeting with Liam Buckley's side has come when the Saints are at their least robust.

A positive result against the Saints combined with a Limerick loss away to Shamrock Rovers could be enough to steer Sligo away from the threatened second from bottom play-off spot.

However Sligo boss Micky Adams has said his side will be concentrating solely on their own game at hand come Friday night.

“We won’t be looking at other results. You can’t get too caught up in the ifs, buts and maybes”, he told sligorovers.com. “We just need to concentrate on ourselves and what is a very, very good team that we are up against tomorrow.”

But form is not in Sligo's favour going into Friday's game – the Bit O'Red having only one win in their last eight Premier Division games.

Goals from Ismahil Akinade and Anto Murphy condemning Sligo to their most recent of losses last Saturday when they were pegged back 2-0 at the Showgrounds to Keith Long's Bohemians, with manager Adams acknowledging the disappointing result.

“Of course they players have need a bit of a lift after losing last week” he told sligorovers.com “But what you have to do is respond and you do that by putting in the work at training during the week.

“And I have been pleased with what has been a good week for us on the training pitch, apart from the injuries. They have been disruptive but that is not an excuse, it’s just a fact. But we are ready for the game tomorrow.”

Sligo will be without the suspended Tim Clancy for Friday's game while John Russell, Jeff Henderson and Jason Hughes are all ruled out through injury.

Referee: Anthony Buttimer

MATCH STATS

St. Pats have lost six of their last eight games.

Sligo have scored more goals away from home than at the Showgrounds in the Premier Division this season (17 scored at home, 18 away)

St. Pats have accumulated a total of six points from their last twenty-four available.

Sligo have the second highest number of draws of teams in the Premier Division this season, drawing ten of their 31 games.

This will be St. Pats  final game at home in the league this season – the Saints having lost three all season, two of which have come in the past two weeks.

Sligo also have the least number of wins of all teams in the Premier Division with six – a record shared with bottom-placed Limerick who have won all six in their last ten games.

BETTING

St. Patrick's Athletic 3/4 Draw 13/5; Sligo Rovers 10/3

PREDICTION

St. Patrick's Athletic 1-1 Sligo Rovers

St. Patrick's Athletic

Injured: Brendan Clarke (finger)

Doubtful: Jason McGuinness (knee), Greg Bolger (hamstring)

Suspended: None

Sligo Rovers

Injured: John Russell, Jeff Henderson, Jason Hughes

Suspended: None