19.45 8 May 2015 -
Referee: Robert Harvey
League Preview: Cork City -v- Sligo Rovers
- Josh Dolan
- Fri, May 08 2015
CORK CITY
John Caulfield’s Cork City will mark the beginning of the second round of SSE Airtricity League Premier Division fixtures when they host Sligo Rovers at Turner’s Cross on Friday night.
The teams played out a 1-1 draw at The Showgrounds on the opening night of the season, when a stoppage time strik from Ross Gaynor denied Sligo a winning start after Steven Beattie had put Owen Heary’s side in front.
Since then, the respective sides have seen their seasons take different turns. City have had a positive start, taking 22 points from a possible 33, a return City boss John Caulfield has been content with.
“From the outset, 22 points is a fair return; I probably would have hoped for 24,” Caulfield told the media in Cork earlier on this week.
“There’s a lot we have done very well and some stuff we haven’t done as well; we have given some outstanding performances, but we have been disappointing on occasions too.
“The important thing for us is to get back winning, hang in there and keep the pressure on.”
Caulfield is looking forward to welcoming the Bit O’Red on Friday night. However, the City boss insists that Rovers will pose a tough threat, despite their poor form.
“Sligo is an important game for us now; there is a huge three points on offer,” the Rebels boss explained.
“They will be difficult opponents, but we are at home, hopefully our crowd will be back out in force and we have to get back to winning ways,” he concluded.
City Captain John Dunleavy will miss the next couple of months after having surgery on a knee problem. Defender Alan Bennett is also out after limping out of last Monday’s draw with Bohemians, while Billy Dennehy, Garry Buckley and Mark O’Sullivan are all doubts and will be assessed closer to kick-off.
You can hear what manager John Caulfield had to say about Cork’s recent form along with the ever growing injury list, by listening to our most recent episode of the Sportscast here - http://extratime.ie/newsdesk/articles/14190/the-extratimeie-sportscast---episode-33---john-caulfield---mikey-drennan---stephen-henderson---ronan-finn/
SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo will be hoping that the second round of Premier Division games is kinder than the first.
The first round of Premier Division fixtures saw Owen Heary’s side pick up just eight points from eleven games
Rovers boss Owen Heary saw his side draw 1-1 with Limerick last Saturday, a game that Heary believes his side should’ve won.
“Having watched the video (of the game against Limerick) and analysed it we created a lot more chances in the game than they (Limerick) did,” Heary told sligorovers.com.
“But they put one ball into the box for their only chance of the game and get a goal from it and we come away disappointed.”
Heary insists his players are full of belief heading Friday’s trip south to play in front of a big crowd at Turner’s Cross.
“But they put one ball into the box for their only chance of the game and get a goal from it and we come away disappointed,” the ex-Bohs man explained.
“They have been together for two years no and are a big, powerful side.
“But we are well capable of going down there and getting a result.
“It will take a lot of effort from the players and ourselves but they will be taking to the pitch determined and focused on picking up the win,” Heary concluded.
Defensive duo Jeff Henderson and Gavin Peers will continue to miss out with respective injuries, while forward Morton Nielsen is a doubt for Friday’s trip.
Referee: Robert Harvey
MATCH STATS
City have conceded just two goals at home this season.
Sligo’s last win at Turner’s Cross came in a 1-0 win back in April 2012.
The Bit O’Red have won just once in five away games so far this season.
BETTING
Cork City 4/7; Draw 13/5; Sligo Rovers 11/2.
PREDICTION
Cork City 2-0 Sligo Rovers
Cork City
Injured: John Dunleavy, Alan Bennett.
Doubtful: Billy Dennehy, Garry Buckley, Mark O’Sullivan.
Suspended: None.
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Gavin Peers, Jeff Henderson.
Doubtful: Morton Nielsen.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …