The Bit O’ Red host UCD on Saturday night in our third home game in a row after games against Shelbourne and Bohemians resulted in two 1-0 defeats.

Rovers had gone into those games unbeaten but the results mean Saturday night’s game takes on even more significance as the team look to get back to winning ways.

UCD were promoted though the League Play-Offs last season, defeating Waterford in the Final in Inchicore and as ever, have plenty of talent on show throughout their squad.

Ex Rovers Academy graduates Jack Keaney and Liam Kerrigan have impressed since leaving for the college and striker Colm Whelan finished top goalscorer in last season’s first division.

Manager Liam Buckley knows a performance is needed from Saturday night.

‘’We’re well aware we need to improve our overall performance level. I did feel we improved on the Shelbourne performance against Bohs and we’ll be looking to improve on that again tomorrow.

While the results didn’t go for us, they were two very tight games and as I have said many times the first goal in this league is important so we will be looking to come out do that tomorrow night and attack from the start.

As the table shows it is so tight and we want to make sure if a gap does start appearing that we are on the right side of it.

UCD are always a threat as they have such good young talent in their team. We know all about some of their players and have watched them plenty of times so far this season, so we’ll have a plan in place and look to overcome their threats.’’

In team news Aidan Keena will again be assessed closer to kick off but the striker is progressing from his injury sustained last Friday night against Shelbourne. There are no other concerns ahead of the game.

Last three:

Sligo Rovers: Bohemians (Lost 1-0), Shelbourne (Lost 1-0), Shamrock Rovers (Drew 2-2)

UCD:               Derry City (Lost 2-0), Dundalk (Lost 2-0), Bohemians (Drew 1-1)