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Sligo skipper Danny Ventre and Vlastimil Stozicky of Spartak Trnava. NPHO/Peter Kollár
European night

Preview: Bit O’Red face an uphill battle

The Showgrounds hosts Spartak Trnava as Sligo Rovers look to overturn a 3-1 first leg deficit in their Europa League second leg qualifier.

Sligo Rovers v Spartak Trnava, The Showgrounds, 7pm

AFTER GOING DOWN to a 3-1 first leg defeat in Slovakia last week, Airtricty League side Sligo Rovers are hoping a full house can help them turn things around in their Europa League second round qualifier tonight.

Over 3,000 tickets have already been sold and many more fans are expected to turn up on the evening as the Showgrounds hosts a European night for the first time this season.

The Bit O’Red were guilty of some poor defending last week as Miroslav Karhan headed home from a corner after 36 minutes before Martin Mikovic grabbed two more for their opponents.

The visitors did respond well, however, and got their just reward when Gavin Peers latched onto the end of Danny North’s cross to give them an away goal.

North, speaking to SligoRovers.com, says he doesn’t believe Sligo need to go Gung-ho in search of goals early on, but emphasised the importance of keeping a clean sheet.

“I don’t think we need to attack from the start. As long as we don’t conceded early, that is important.

As the game goes on that is when we will have to start worrying if we don’t score but we just need to go out and play our own game and hopefully the goals will come.

“It is always an experience playing in these games. It is where you want to be, that sort of standard and it is good experience for all the lads. I enjoy it and hopefully we can progress to another round.”

Watch highlights of the first leg here:

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