League Preview: UCD -v- Sligo Rovers
UCD Bowl Credit: Timmy Keane (ETPhotos)
UCD
UCD are slowly being cut adrift at the foot of the Premier Division table and unless there is a dramatic turnaround in their fortunes it looks like they are destined for a speedy return back to the First Division.
They have only one win in 17 games, a recent 1-0 win away to Finn Harps, and with only eight points on the board it will be a long summer and autumn for Andy Myler’s side until the season ends in November.
Their cause was not helped by the season ending ACL injury suffered by their star striker Colm Whelan in that recent game against Harps.
Whelan’s goals, 21 last season and four already this season, will be sorely missed as they try to remain competitive for the rest of the season.
The students played well in their last outing against Shelbourne in Tolka Park but were hit by two sucker punches in the form of two goals either side of half time.
The first was from a very dubious penalty just on the stroke of half-time which Sean Boyd duly converted. A mere nine seconds into the second half Jack Moylan picked up a through ball from Luke Byrne and slotted past Kian Moore in the UCD goals.
UCD were given a lifeline towards the end of the game when awarded a penalty, but Liam Kerrigan’s effort was saved by the feet of Brendan Clarke.
Kerrigan was called up by Jim Crawford for the Ireland under 21 side this week for games against Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Italy. He will be available for the Sligo Rovers game but will miss UCD’s first game after the mid-season break away to Drogheda United.
SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo Rovers experienced the best new manager bounce they could have wished for when they defeated Derry City 2-1 at home on Monday night.
Following the departure from the club of manager Liam Buckley after the 2-1 loss to Bohemians, assistant manager John Russell took charge for the visit of Derry City and plotted a well-deserved win by the odd goal in three.
The winner came in the most dramatic of circumstances, a flowing four man move at the edge of the box saw the ball end up with substitute Seamus Keogh and he evaded the Derry City defenders to blast the ball past Brendan Maher for a 93rd minute winner.
The three points gained pushes the Bit O’ Red back up to fifth place in the table on 24 points, only four points behind the current fourth place team St Patrick’s Athletic who are on 28 points.
Interim Manager Russell spoke to the club’s media team in advance of the game and said: “Everyone was delighted to get back to winning ways on Monday.
“We were aggressive in our play all night and our mentality was spot on. I felt we created a lot of chances and the players fed off the atmosphere in the ground which helped us to go on and get the late winner.
“UCD will be a different challenge tomorrow evening. We know they carry an attacking threat having drawn with them at home in our previous meeting.
“The players have worked extremely hard this week and are looking forward to the game. Hopefully we will have a big following on the night.”
In team news, Garry Buckley was forced off on Monday night and will be assessed close to kick off. David Cawley, Robbie McCourt and Max Mata all near a return to the squad having missed out through injury on Monday.
Referee: David Dunne
MATCH STATS
The first-round fixture between these two sides took place in April at The Showgrounds in Sligo where the game ended on a 2-2 score line.
Max Mata scored both of Sligo’s goals in the 23rd and 83rd minutes, with UCD’s two goals sandwiched in between, Colm Whelan and Evan Caffrey the scorers.
BETTING
UCD 4/1; Draw 14/5; Sligo Rovers 8/15
PREDICTION
UCD 0-3 Sligo Rovers
UCD
Injured: Colm Whelan
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None
Sligo Rovers
Injured: None
Doubtful: Gary Buckley, Max Mata, Robbie McCourt, David Cawley
Suspended: None
