Sligo Rovers take on Shelbourne on Monday night at 7.45pm in Tolka Park in both team’s second game of a busy Easter Weekend.
Rovers defeated Dundalk at Oriel Park on Friday thanks to goals from Max Mata and Stefan Radosavljevic and Shelbourne drew 0-0 away to fellow Dubliners UCD at The UCD Bowl.
Going into the game, The Bit O’ Red are in third place in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division with Damien Duff’s Shelbourne in 8th but just three points behind the Bit O’ Red in what is proving to be an extremely tight division so far this season.
Manager John Russell was thrilled with his side’s performance in Friday’s win:
”Oriel Park is always a tough venue to play at so to come away with three points was important.
”I felt we managed the game really well. Our team shape and organisation was good, and we were clinical with both of our goals”.
The sides were evenly matched in 2022, with two wins each out of the four games against each other. Rovers won last time out at Tolka Park thanks to goals from Frank Liivak and Aidan Keena in a 2-0 win last September.
Russell is fully aware of the threat the hosts will bring tomorrow night:
”Shelbourne are a well organised side with some good young players. They have been unlucky not to pick up more points in their games so far.
”The league is so tight and the players know you have to bring the right mentality into every game.
”We’re hoping for another big performance tomorrow night”.
Rovers continue without five first team players with Garry Buckley, Mark Byrne, Gary Boylan, Karl O’ Sullivan and Johan Brannefalk all out with knee or ankle injuries.
Sean McAteer is also out long-term and goalkeeper Conor Walsh is close to a return from a recent ankle injury.
The game is Live on LOI TV from 7.45pm and you can hear commentary on Ocean FM.
Rovers are back at home next Saturday night against Drogheda United at The Showgrounds. The game kicks off at 7.45pm and tickets can be bought online now via the link below: