SLIGO ROVERS manager Dave Robertson admits Finn Harps ‘will provide a different challenge’ as his side aim to continue their good run of form in tomorrow’s north-west derby.
The Bit o’Red take a strong run of form into the game with six wins from the last seven, the only blemish coming on the road at Shamrock Rovers.
Photo caption: The scene at the Showgrounds when Sligo Rovers and Finn Harps last met, when the Showgrounds’ floodlights failed earlier this season. Photo: Gary Foy
Most recently Rovers emerged victorious from a trip to play Galway United on Sunday afternoon. Kieran Sadlier scored a double for the second consecutive fixture to confirm a 2-1 win.
[adrotate group=”50″]Harps lost three games on the spin – 7-0 to Dundalk and 4-0 at St Patrick’s Athletic in the SSE Airtricity League Premier Division before going down 1-0 to FAI Intermediate Cup winners Crumlin United in the FAI Cup two weeks’ ago.
However, Ollie Horgan’s side left Tallaght Stadium with a credible 1-1 draw last week in the league against Shamrock Rovers, with Dave Scully scoring at both ends.
“Finn Harps will provide a different challenge,” Robertson said. “We have prepared well for it and it is one that we are all really looking forward to. We have a good idea of what to expect from them. They got a good draw against Shamrock Rovers at Tallaght and that will inject more confidence into their group.”
[adrotate group=”57″]“The fact that this is a derby game just adds motivation. They will also be wanting to do well in the league even more having been knocked out of the cup to Crumlin. There is everything to play for and we won’t take the game lightly and are giving them every respect, they have ground out some good results against some good team at the start of the season.
“We cannot become complacent just because we are on a good run. We have to assert ourselves on the game, be attacking and continue to play the game in the right way.”
In the previous meeting with Finn Harps this season, the game resulted in a 1-1 draw. That was despite the game not playing the full 90 minutes due to floodlight issues. Chris Lyons had been the scorer for Rovers at The Showgrounds before Damien McNulty levelled.
[adrotate group=”62″]In team news Rovers welcome back both Craig Roddan and Michael Leahy who were absent for the game in Galway due to suspension. Also back available is Tim Clancy who has recovered from a troublesome thigh problem.
However Gavin Peers misses the game with a slight hamstring injury picked up in the second half against Galway but it is expected he should be fit again when the season resumes in three weeks’ time. Another player forced out of the win last weekend Regan Donelon is fully fit.
