Sligo Rovers v Bohemians, The Showgrounds (8pm)
SLIGO’S TITLE BID continues tonight, as they face a tough game with Bohs at The Showgrounds.
Sligo manager Ian Baraclough spoke of how he has been trying to enhance his side’s team spirit ahead of the fixture.
“We spent the early part of the week on togetherness and getting away from football because it was a long wait for another game and it was important to vary things.
“It was a good build-up, we put a lot of focus on the game in the last few days and we’re ready for Monday night now.”
Meanwhile, Bohs boss Aaron Callaghan has emphasised that his side must improve on recent performances if they are to topple Sligo:
“We want to finish as high up in the league as we can. To do that we have to be better in the attacking side of the game.“We have been good defensively and in midfield we’ve done very well, but we have just lacked that cutting edge in goal-scoring.”
Team news:
New signings Ken Carr, Garreth O’Connor and Kevin Devaney are all available to start for Bohs tonight. However, Owen Heary (back), Ryan McEvoy (ankle) and Kevin Feely (suspended) will be absent.
For Sligo, Danny North and Iarfhlaith Davoren are injured, and Ross Gaynor is suspended. They will also have to cope without the services of Romauld Boco, who has moved to Accrington Stanley.
St Patrick’s Athletic v Derry City, Richmond Park (7.45pm)
St Pat’s welcome Derry to Richmond Park tonight, as 4th takes on 5th in the Airtricity League.
The hosts’ boss, Liam Buckley, has emphasised that there is still plenty to play for, as the season approaches its climax.
“Derry are a good side and have been improving recently so we know it’s not going to be easy.
“We need to get as many points as we can between now and the end of the season and see where that leaves us. We’ve a good squad of players here and know that we can make up ground between us and the teams ahead of us.”
His opposite number, Declan Devine, has expressed dissatisfaction with the intensity of his side’s schedule in recent days.
“I’m very upset with the fact that we must once again travel to Dublin for a third time in ten days. This game has been re-arranged due to the fact that we were asked by the FAI to postpone the original tie to facilitate St Pats European fixture list.“We agreed with this under the conditions that it would be re-arranged at a time that suited both teams, a point which the people looking after the fixture lists within the FAI seem to have forgotten.”
Team news:
John Russell could return for Pat’s, having missed recent games with an ankle injury, while Dean Kelly (groin), Stephen O’Flynn (ribs) and Mark Rossiter (knee) are still unavailable for selection.
David McDaid is suspended for Derry, and Rory Paterson (hamstring) and Owen Morrison (groin) are also out.
