League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers

Action from Cork City's win over Sligo Rovers

Action from Cork City's win over Sligo Rovers Credit: David Ribeiro (ETPhotos)

CORK CITY

Cork City welcome Sligo Rovers to Turner’s Cross on Friday evening in their desperate chase to avoid a dreaded relegation play-off (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Leesiders are without a win since June in the league and most recently slumped to a poor 3-1 loss against Drogheda United.

Liam Buckley’s men took a first-half lead through Kevin Custovic but a red card to new signing Malik Dijksteel put them on the back foot.

And after that City coughed up three goals to pile the misery on them.

Dijksteel will now miss Friday’s game against eight-placed Sligo.

But if City lose they could slip to nine points behind the Bit O’ Red – with the potential for that to extend during the coming weeks.

SLIGO ROVERS

Premier Division strugglers Sligo Rovers welcome back Daniel Lafferty to the fold ahead of their vital game against relegation play-off rivals Cork City.

The Bit O’ Red are without a win in over a month and have been without Lafferty since his dismissal against Drogheda United in the FAI Cup.



But he is set to return for John Russell’s men following the conclusion of his lengthy league ban.

Rovers currently sit 8th in the table and are just six points clear of Cork City in ninth.

However, they do have a home fixture to come against UCD next week in their bid to pull themselves away from the relegation battle.

Gary Boylan, Mark Byrne and Will Fitzgerald are all expected to miss out.

Referee: Oliver Moran.

 



PREDICTION

Cork City 0-1 Sligo Rovers

 

Cork City

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: Malik Dijksteel.

 

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Gary Boylan, Will Fitzgerald, Mark Byrne.

Doubtful: N/A.

Suspended: None.

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