FAI Cup Preview: Sligo Rovers - v - Derry City

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers will be looking to reach the semi-final of the FAI Cup for the second year on the spin when they host Derry City at the Showgrounds on Wednesday evening (kick-off is at 7.30pm).

The Bit O’Red come into the game with a bit of a break behind them after seeing off Dundalk in their final league game of the season.

As a result of their league finish, Sligo will secure European football should neither Derry City nor Athlone Town win the FAI Cup.

“We’ve managed our schedule with the additional delay,” Sligo boss Liam Buckley told his club’s media team.

“It was just another weekend and the players are just ticking over in terms of fitness at this stage of the season. We’ve done our best with that.”

He added: “I said to the group that it’s great to be fourth in the table and it was a really great finish to the season but memories are also built on winning cups and winning leagues, getting into Europe and playing games.

“It’s about occasions. From a football perspective I want our lads to grasp it as best they can and see what happens from there.

“The cup is special, definitely. From the final whistle in Dundalk we said that wasn’t our season finished, we had to bring it in to the Derry game and that is what we will look to do.

“It will be difficult, I know. The game there and down here, there wasn’t much in it, albeit we won both games, but that said it won’t come into my consideration.”

Niall Morahan and Jesse Devers are both suspended for Sligo, while Ronan Murray and Johnny Dunleavy are both injured.

DERRY CITY

Derry City will be looking to reach the FAI Cup semi-finals on Wednesday evening despite having several issues relating to Covid-19 in the past few weeks.

The Candystripes did not train before any of their final league games of the season – but they planned on getting a few sessions in before the cup tie away to Sligo.

“We had no training sessions at all before of our final couple of league matches but we hope to get some sort of work with the players ahead of Wednesday night,” Declan Devine told his club’s media team.

“It’s been one of those seasons and you can see how it has affected clubs everywhere.

“We still have a chance to compete for silverware though so it’s up to us to go to Sligo and try to win the game.

“We have no new injury worries so everybody other than Ally Gilchrist is available. That’s not a luxury we’ve had very often in the past few months so it’s a chance for the players to show what they can do.”

Referee: Neil Doyle.

MATCH STATS

Sligo Rovers have won both league games between the sides this year – and have yet to concede against Declan Devine’s side in 2020.

Sligo Rovers have won their last two games on the spin, while Derry have won just two of their previous league games.

BETTING

Sligo Rovers 6/4; Draw 2/1; Derry City 13/8.

PREDICTION

Sligo Rovers 2 - 1 Derry City

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Ronan Murray, Jonny Dunleavy.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Niall Morahan, Jesse Devers.

Derry City

Injured: Ally Gilchrist.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.