Sligo Rovers are back in league action this Friday night as the Bit O’Red journey to the south east and to the RSC to take on Waterford, kick-off 7.45pm.

This will be the fourth and final time the sides will meet this season, with Rovers having the better of the Blues so far this term. Waterford won in Sligo on the opening night of the season, but Rovers returned the favour in April, trouncing our opponents by four goals to nil away from home and followed this up with a Wilson Waweru goal to nil win at the Showgrounds in June. 

A win for Rovers would close the gap to John Coleman’s side to five points as John Russell’s men go in search of a third win in five following recent away victories over Cork City in the league and Bohemians in the FAI Cup.

In team news, Russell approaches Friday with no injury concerns and welcomes back midfielder James McManus who missed the Bohs game due to the terms of his loan deal.

Speaking to sligorovers.com, the Rovers first team manager says his team are in a good place, ahead of the Waterford tie. 

“We asked the lads in Dalymount last week to just go out and enjoy what they’re paid to do”, he says. 

“Go out and enjoy themselves and that’s what they did. We want to do that again in Waterford on Friday. 

“I thought we were all over Bohs in the first half and were superb to a man. Second half, Sam Sargeant came up with that big stop from the penalty and we go and score shortly after. We showed a lot of grit and spirit to do that and probably should have gone on to score more. 

“We’ll take a lot of confidence from going to Bohs, the team sitting second in the league and beating them. It’s vital we bring that momentum into this game at the RSC. 

“Last week was a big confidence boost for the players. We have a lot of new lads here with the signings we made and they all looked very comfortable in their roles at Dalymount. That’s testament to the new players and how well they have taken to their new surroundings. But it also shows how well our current crop has adjusted to the changes. 

“It’s a long trip down there but we’ve prepared well and have a plan so we’re looking forward to it. We’re going to have to be at the top of our game as Waterford will make it hard for us. They’ll be wanting to pick up as many points as they can as quickly as they can and will see this game as ideal for putting further space between us and them.”

David Goulden