Sligo Rovers go to the Ryan McBride Brandywell to take on Derry City this Sunday afternoon with plenty on the line for both sides ahead of the fourth and final meeting between the two this season, kick-off 4pm.
Initially due to take place on October 3rd, this game was rescheduled following Storm Amy.
Unbeaten in five league games, Rovers will look to put further space between ourselves and both Galway United and Waterford who occupy eighth and ninth spot respectively.
Galway have no game this weekend and don’t play again until October 17th. While Waterford’s game with Drogheda was also postponed.
Rovers’ win last week over St Pat’s means the Bit O’Red cannot finish in the automatic relegation spot but are still tussling with both Galway and Waterford to avoid the relegation play-off.
Derry themselves will want to kick Shamrock Rovers’ now inevitable title celebrations down the road for a few days at least.
The Candystripes know that anything but a home win on Sunday will confirm the Hoops champions.
City, who haven’t won in two league games following draws with Drogheda and Shelbourne, will however want to strengthen their hold on second spot, as they sit just above the chasing pack. They are on a six game unbeaten run.
In team news, Rovers are hopeful that Ollie Denham will return for selection following a few weeks out with a hip injury.
Ryan O’Kane was a late withdrawal before the Pat’s game with illness. The loanee is expected to be available for Friday.
While Seb Quirk, also a withdrawal late last week, will face a late fitness test as will Ciaron Harkin, who is suffering with illness at the moment.
Rovers’ last win by the River Foyle came during the shortened covid season back in 2020 but John Russell’s side will take confidence from a superb two goal win over Tiernan Lynch’s men back in July.
Goals from Derry local Paddy McClean and a Wilson Waweru strike in injury time at the end of the first half secured a massive result for Sligo at the Showgrounds.
“We will look to keep this run going”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.
“The players have been brilliant in the last few months, both on the training pitch and on the field in competitive games. Each one of them to a man has deserved the praise they’ve received for some big results in the league but we have to forget about what’s done now and keep the focus on getting something from Sunday.
“We can’t and won’t take our foot off the gas now for the last few weeks of the campaign.
“We are nowhere near having the job done and we need to keep finding higher levels as the weeks go on. There’s so much football still to play.
“Each and every point is massive for all the teams at this stage. Everyone is fighting for something at the moment, it’s a scrap.
“If you lose focus or take your eye off the ball, you’ll be punished by the teams below you. The squad is very aware of this.”
Of Derry, Russell is aware of their many threats and has urged his side again to play on the front foot.
“They have talent, pace and creativity all over the pitch”, he says.
“They’ve punished us twice already this season but there wasn’t much in the games.
“Last time we were in Derry, we left the game behind us after 50 minutes but we were actually the better side for the last half hour or so and deserved a goal or two.
“We put in a great performance to beat them in Sligo then during the summer and we need to hit those high levels again if we want to get something from Sunday.
“But if you go up there and you let them dictate things then you’ll suffer.”
David Goulden