Preview: Rovers back on the road in Derry on Monday

Sligo Rovers travel to face Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Monday night in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Tickets for the game must be bought online in advance here.

The Bit O’ Red won on their first appearance of the new season for the first time since 2014 when sealing a 2-1 success over St Patrick’s Athletic.

Aidan Keena scored his first Rovers goal – as did Colm Horgan – as Rovers made it consecutive wins in Richmond Park.

Derry City were the only side Liam Buckley’s side failed to beat in 2021, with the team finishing in third and fourth respectively.

In team news, Rovers will have their entire squad available. Shane Blaney missed the opening game due to illness but he has recovered in time for this fixture.

Rovers boss Liam Buckley said: “It was a good win on Friday night. I was very pleased with the work rate and how we created lots of chances over the course of the game. I felt we deserved the victory.

“In the last 15 minutes we did have to dig deep and the fact we were playing a side who had a couple more games than us made it more difficult. The games bring you on and that one last Friday will help us.

“It’s been important to recover and we’ve done as much as we can in the last 48 hours or so. Both teams are in the same position from that end. They have a squad where they can make changes if necessary and likewise we have that option with everyone fit and available.

“We’re looking forward to it. It’s a tough game certainly. Derry’s recruitment is well-known in bringing in the Dundalk players and from elsewhere. There’s an expectation there really to try to win the league this season and it was a very good result for them last Friday.

“That said, we’ll go there with the onus on ourselves and look at how we can improve again. We know that you have to turn up in every game to get results in this league. It was just three points last Friday, a start, and something to build on. We’d love to add to it on Monday night.

“I’ve no doubt there’ll be another packed house and we’ll have the great support with us like we had in Dublin last Friday. We look forward to all that comes with this game and we’ll go there looking for the result again.”