Sligo Rovers travel to take on Drogheda United on Friday night in the third game of this season’s SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

Rovers started the season with a 1-1 draw at home to Shamrock Rovers and got the first win of the season six days later against UCD thanks in part to Max Mata’s hattrick.

Drogheda United remain unbeaten after two draws away to Shelbourne and at home to Shamrock Rovers last weekend.

Manager John Russell knows it will be another tough test for his side:

‘’Drogheda Utd have started the season well. They were unlucky not to take all 3 points last weekend.

‘’They have a nice blend of youth and experience in their squad. They’re always a tough opponent at home so we will need to be at our best to get a result.

‘’We have shown good signs in our opening two games. The players have reacted well to going behind but, our aim is to start keeping clean sheets while still having that attacking threat’’.

It is the start of a busy period for Rovers with four games in fourteen days with a double header at home to St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City coming up next week before a trip to Derry City on St. Patrick’s Day.

Russell says the importance of the full squad will be shown in the coming games:

‘’All the clubs are now facing into a busy schedule of games. I feel we have built a strong squad this year and we will need everyone ready to compete over the next two weeks.

We know it will take a bit of time for our new players to settle and get used to the demands of this league but, it’s vital we continue to pick up points as we improve our play’’.

Tickets for our home fixtures against St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City are now on sale online. Supporters who do not have a season ticket can still grab one before Monday in order to gain access to every game this season.

Season Tickets can be bought via the link below:

https://srfcdirect.com/season-tickets-2023/

In team news, Rovers continue to be without injured trio Garry Buckley, Gary Boylan and Mark Byrne (All knee injuries) but new signing Bogdan Vastsuk is expected to be back among the squad after a recent hamstring issue.

Goalkeeper Conor Walsh will be assessed closer to kick-off following his ankle injury picked up in training last week.

The game will be shown live on LOI TV with a 7.45pm kick off.