League Preview: Derry City -v- Sligo Rovers

DERRY CITY

Derry City go into tonight’s game against Sligo Rovers looking to extend their excellent run of form that has carried them to second in the Airtricity Premier League, sitting within just two points of leaders Dundalk.

City boss Kenny Shiels, however, recognises that Sligo can present a difficult challenge, as Cork and St Pat’s have found out this month.

“They will be a tough opponent, they have improved as they have gone on,” said Shiels.

“The players know how difficult it is to beat a team twice in ten days and I’ve spoken to the players about that.”

“We need to be fresher than we were in our last game against Bohemians, with more intensity, and put in a 90-minute performance,” continued Shiels.

“We want to get back to the fluency we had against Shamrock Rovers,” he added, ahead of the match at the Brandywell.

“We have had a chance to rest our legs a bit this week so we have no excuses.”

A win for the Candystripes tonight will extend the league’s only unblemished home record, and could see them enter the summer months as surprising league leaders if Bohemians can upset Dundalk this evening.

SLIGO ROVERS

Rovers make the journey to Derry this evening on the back of their first win of the season in last weekend’s 3-0 victory over Longford Town, and they will be looking to build on this first victory in eight weeks with a performance against one of the league’s strongest teams so far this campaign.

Their opponents prevailed with a 2-0 victory when the teams met in the EA Sports Cup ten days ago, and the Bit O’Red will be looking to learn from that and avenge that defeat.

Speaking to the club’s website in the build up to the game, manager Dave Robertson said:

“We had a really good conversation with the players on Wednesday and they have come in and worked very hard this week the same as ever.

“What we said was that the Longford game is only really of benefit to us if we do build on it. And all the players have bought into that and understand what is expected of them to do so,” the Bit O’Red boss cocncluded.

MATCH STATS

Derry have won seven and drawn two of their last nine games in all competitions since their opening day defeat to Finn Harps, making them the most in-form team during this period.

Just four points separated these teams at the end of the 2015 season, but a win for Derry on Friday will put 16 points between them after 10 games.

Sligo doubled their goal tally for the season to six with last week’s victory against Longford, while Derry have only conceded one home goal in their four games.

In 58 games between the two clubs, Rovers have won 18, while City have won 16.

BETTING

Derry City 19/20, Draw 9/4; Sligo Rovers 3/1.

PREDICTION

Derry City 2-0 Sligo Rovers

Derry City

Injured: Harry Monaghan, Gareth McGlynn.

Doubtful: Aaron Barry.

Suspended: None.

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Gavin Peers, Tim Clancy.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.