Sligo Rovers will look to make it two wins from two following the summer international break as the Bit O’Red head to Sullivan and Lambe Park to take on Drogheda United this Friday, kick-off 7.45pm.
This will be the third time these two teams will face each other this term, with Drogs taking four points from Rovers so far this year. Kevin Doherty’s side beat Rovers in Louth back in February, on what was the second weekend of the season. While Rovers rallied in staging an impressive comeback at the Showgrounds in early May. Two down, an Owen Elding goal was followed by a James Bolger own goal as Rovers leveled the game with two goals in five minutes.
Rovers go into this game without midfield pair Matty Wolfe and Ronan Manning. Wolfe was injured in the lead up to last Saturday’s win over Waterford in Sligo. While Galway native Manning picked up a knock early on in that vital win.
Centre half Ollie Denham is expected back from a sports hernia injury shortly and may make the match day squad either on Friday or for Monday’s game with Galway United.
New signing Seb Quirk is unavailable until July 1st.
On the game, manager John Russell tells sligorovers.com how important it was to re-start the season with a win, but says he has reminded his team to move on quickly.
“We face a really tough game on Friday but we’re in good form and in a good frame of mind following the win over Waterford”, he says.
“It was a huge result for us and one we asked for from the players. We finished the first half of the season on a low, being beaten by Pat’s so it was so important we started this second period of the year with a good result.
“We created a few chances in the first half and did really well to hold on to the lead after we scored. It was bodies on the line stuff at stages towards the end and that’s what you want to see from your players when you’re under pressure. Every man giving everything for his team-mate and we need that again on Friday.
“We have conceded too many goals this season, so to keep the clean sheet was huge for us as we spoke at length about being meaner at the back.
“There’s a long way to go this season and we made sure the players’ feet were kept on the ground this week. This is going to be a really tough game for us as Drogheda is a really tough place to go. They create a brilliant atmosphere up there and you need big players and big voices to get through that. On the back of last week’s win, we’re really looking forward to this one.”
David Goulden