Finn Harps manager Ollie Horgan believes the loser of Saturday night’s relegation battle with Sligo Rovers ‘will be facing relegation’.
With just six games to go and with the margins wafer thin in the tangle to avoid falling through the trap door, Harps have a slight, two-point edge.
Sligo were one of the teams who voted at the start of the season to relegate three teams, but as the teams come around the home straight, the Bit O’Red are in the quick sand, two points behind Harps who, just about, have their toes out of the water.
“It’s a massive game, for both of us,” Horgan said.
“Whoever loses will be facing relegation, if they aren’t already.
“There will be a big team going down – we’d be delighted if it was two or three big teams.
“The last billing of that effect was Galway six weeks ago. That didn’t go to plan. That was a must-win game at the time. This is probably much the same. We didn’t play our part that time.”
Harps lost 3-1 to Galway, but defeated Limerick 2-0 at the Markets Field two weeks ago to breathe new life into their survival hopes.
But with games against Shamrock Rovers, Dundalk and Derry City to follow Saturday’s game, the derby clash has taken on a whole new meaning.
Horgan said: “With the run of games we have after it, it leaves a massive uphill struggle.
“Last time around, when we went into the run of games after Sligo, we didn’t pick up anything in the next three games.
“It will be very difficult to win those three and it will be very difficult to win those one.
“To win it, it will take hell of a lot better than what we’ve been producing.”
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