Rovers Vs. Livingston Colts – Team News

Sligo Rovers host Livingston Colts in the second round of the IRN-BRU Cup at The Showgrounds on Saturday

 

The Bit O’Red play in the competition for the second year running, losing narrowly to Falkirk in 2017.

 

Last week’s win over Cork City moved Rovers closer to safety in the Premier Division.

 

In team news, Seamus Sharkey returns from suspension. Rovers have a full squad to choose.

 

Gerard Lyttle said: “I thought last week we got what we deserved on the night. The lads earned that type of win because it was coming from how they were performing in lots of matches before against the best teams in the division. That little break came our way when it developed for Caolan to slip in Raff. But it was quality as well to create and finish it and overall the way we played as a unit. It was extremely pleasing. We spoke during the build-up of not being complacent and letting the season wind down. We showed on the night that we mean that and there is seven weeks left where we can keep doing that. That’s one target for us. 

 

“We’ve utilised contacts in Scotland to get as much information on Livingston’s side as we can. It’s obviously not straight-forward, and especially at this time of year with their season only really getting going. They used their allocation of overage players in the previous round and their team will be of a good standard overall.

 

“We’ll be treating the game like any other. We want to win this game and why wouldn’t we? First and foremost it’s a home game where we want to give the supporters a win. We also want games. We don’t want empty weeks in our calendar. It’s our pride and maintaining that feeling of the result in Cork

 

“A lot of our squad would qualify for an Under-21 side ironically enough; we’ve been using seven or eight lads that have come from our Under-19s for the last number of months. We saw last week how they likes of John Mahon and Jack Keaney have improved with each game. 

 

“Our approach to the game is to try to win and build on what we’ve been achieving away from home. I feel it will turn for us in The Showgrounds and that a victory is going to come and the sooner we can do that the better obviously. We have a good platform following the solid week of training and a full squad so we’re looking forward to the game.”