Rovers 1-2 Pat’s – Report

St Patrick’s Athletic goalkeeper Brendan Clarke scored a second half penalty as the Saints beat Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Jake Keegan had given the Inchicore side the lead with a well taken, first time finish before Mikey Drennan levelled proceedings before the break.

Clarke then ensured defeat for Rovers with his second half spot-kick.

The away side looked the more dangerous in the opening period.

Ryan Brennan was unable to control a cross from Darragh Markey as he skied his first time volley in front of goal.

While former Sligo striker Achille Campion should have made more of the game’s next opportunity.

Rovers goalkeeper Mitchell Beeney came to meet David Cawley’s attempted back pass from the half way line.

Beeney’s clearance only reaching the Frenchman who fired high and wide from 20 yards out.

The Saints then deservedly hit the lead as Keegan caught Lee Desmond’s cross first time to guide the ball past Beeney.

Rovers found their leveller six minutes from the break.

Paddy McClean had headed Regan Donelon’s corner onto the Pat’s crossbar before Drennan followed up for his fourth goal in two games.

Pat’s hit the lead again on 58 in rather novel circumstances.

Simon Madden was tripped as he attempted to turn inside the Rovers area, before Clarke sprinted the length of the pitch to take the ball and send his opposite number the wrong way.

Beeney grabbed a stinging effort from distance from Dean Clarke at the second attempt on 71, while Campion again blasted over with the goal at his mercy four minutes from time.

Sligo Rovers: Mitchell Beeney; Seamus Sharkey, John Mahon, Paddy McClean, Regan Donelon; David Cawley (Lewis Morrison 76), Jack Keaney; Kris Twardek (Caolan McAleer 69), Lee Lynch, Adam Wixted (Raff Cretaro 62); Mikey Drennan.

St Patrick’s Athletic: Brendan Clarke; Michael Barker, Lee Desmond, Mick Leahy, Dean Clarke; Simon Madden, Ryan Brennan, Darragh Markey, Jamie Lennon, Jake Keegan; Achille Campion.

Team news: Rovers host Pat’s on Saturday

Sligo Rovers host St Patrick’s Athletic in The Showgrounds on Saturday in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

The Bit O’Red go into the game in their best form of the season with three away league wins in August and last week’s home victory in the IRN-BRU Cup against Livingston Colts.

In team news, Rhys McCabe is suspended as he serves a one-game ban. Gary Boylan is out long-term.

Gerard Lyttle said: “There has been a good buzz around the place on and off-the-pitch. We’re in a good bit of form. We’ve responded well from Longford, getting the head down and working hard. If you look at the games before that, we put points on the board and we’re in a position now where we can try to catch some of the teams above us.

“Until July there was a lot of chopping and changing with the team. In the last few months we think we’ve found a better continuity and as a group the lads have that bit more mettle. It was no more evident that coming from behind in the Cork game. I don’t think too many teams do that in a place like Turner’s Cross but we want more results like that. The lads have such a strong bond and I think they enjoy being here.

“We’ve competed well with every team in this division. We haven’t been on the end of heavy defeats and some of the results we have achieved show real improvement. We went to Pat’s last time and got a good win but the games are always tight against them.

“The most important thing last week was just getting a home win. When we went 1-0 down, the supporters encouraged the team and it was really appreciated. The fear could have come in and the lads didn’t panic. The fans played their part and a win like that was overdue for them. We’d like that again on Saturday night.

“We’ve looked at Pat’s and their switch to 3-5-2, the big feature of their win over Waterford was three goals from set-pieces. They can also adapt that formation pretty easily. Ian Bermingham is a loss in his importance in their system but they have lots of good players to call upon.

“Rhys obviously features in the centre of midfield a lot but he has often been on the left or right-side and we have Lewis Morrison, Jack Keaney, Caolan McAleer, Adam Wixted, all who can play come into play with a small reshuffle. It’s disappointing to be without Rhys but we have players who can fill in. We certainly have players itching for the opportunity.

“Our work-rate has been a key part of victories. That’s what we seek from the players. It’s going to be a hard game but we’re looking for a victory because it can bring us close to Pat’s in the table and that should motivate us all.”

Kick-off is 7:45pm, tickets available at turnstiles