League Preview: St Patrick's Athletic -v- Sligo Rovers - extratime.com

ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC

St Patricks Athletic should be buzzing with confidence after their superb performance over two legs in the Europa Conference League when they return to domestic action with a game against Sligo Rovers at Richmond Park (kick-off is at 6pm).

Pats followed up their great 3-1 home win against FC Vaduz of Liechtenstein in the second qualifying round of the competition with an equally impressive 2-2 draw in the away leg last Thursday night, thereby setting up a third qualification round clash with Sabah FC (Azerbaijan) next Thursday night.

Goals from Romal Palmer and Zack Elbouzedi cancelled out two strikes from FC Vaduz and enabled Stephen Kenny’s side to advance to the next round on a 5-3 aggregate score.

Their recent league form has been poor to say the least with only one win in their last five outings, and they were also ceremoniously dumped out of the FAI Cup on a 3-0 scoreline by Derry City.

The European performance has certainly come at a good time as it gives them an opportunity to return to base in front of their own supporters and build on those two recent performances and add to their current haul of 28 league points.

They currently lie in eight position in the league table after 25 games and are too close for comfort to Drogheda Utd who prop up the table with only seven points separating the two teams.

Stephen Kenny spoke with the Pats media team in advance of the game and called on the home fans, many of whom travelled to Liechtenstein during the week, to get behind the team for the Rovers game, saying: "We will need the energy of our home crowd on Sunday evening, I have great faith that we can rely on their support.

"We face a Sligo Rovers team who have been very consistent recently.

"It’s a massive game for us in a busy period, so we have to make sure we are ready."

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers are without doubt one of the surprise packages of the 2024 season and, on current form, are very live contenders for one of the top four slots after having played 25 of their 36 matches.

Their recent league record is one of the best in the division, matched only by Derry City, with four wins out of the last five games played.

They also beat Cobh Wanderers by 3-0 in the FAI Cup and managed to hold Everton to a 3-3 draw in a friendly at the Showgrounds.

They are actually on the same points total as third placed Shamrock Rovers but have a game extra played and also have an inferior goal difference.

They had a very good home win against West of Ireland neighbours Galway Utd last weekend, deservedly winning 2-0.

In form striker Wilson Waweru, who has now notched four goals this season, opened the scoring in the 33rd minute and Cardiff City loanee Luke Pearce made sure of the three points with a late strike in the fifth minute of added time.

Manager John Russell spoke with the Irish Mirror this week and was in a very positive frame of mind as they prepare for the trip to the capital.

He said: "We are right in the mix, I said in the period where we were struggling that, on our day, we can beat anyone. We came out of the slump and are winning games now.

“Does that mean we're going to win every game between now and the end of the season? That's very unrealistic but we approach every game, home or away, with the approach that we can win.

“I have belief in the group and the staff around me that we go into a game thinking, we can win tonight, not, 'My God, we're away to St Pat’s or Shamrock Rovers, we're in for a tough night'.

"We know each other, we are coming into the final series of games and it's about who can hold their nerve, who can believe they can get results and get it over the line.

"I have a group of players who believe in what we are doing, they know the ability that they have and it's important we keep believing and you never know what can happen."

Referee: Rob Hennessy.

MATCH STATS

St Patrick's Athletic will be hoping for a repeat performance against their opponents as they had in the last pairing back in April when they had a comprehensive 3-0.

Luke Turner (2) and Mason Melia were their goal scorers on that occasion.

Sligo Rovers on the other hand will be looking to the reverse fixture in May for their inspiration on Sunday evening, as Ellis Chapman’s 22nd minute goal was enough to give them all three points at the Showgrounds.

PREDICTION

St Patrick's Athletic 2-1 Sligo Rovers

St Patrick's Athletic

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Sligo Rovers       

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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