Sligo Rovers strike at the death to dent Derry's title challenge
Sligo Rovers 1 Derry City
Stefan Radosavljevic scores the winning goal for Sligo Rovers.
Sligo Rovers picked up back-to-back wins for the first time in over twelve months as they delivered a hammer blow to ten-man Derry City's hopes of a first league title in 26 years at the Showgrounds.
Substitute Stefan Radosavljevic netted the winner six minutes from time as John Russell's side moved nine points clear of the relegation play-off with five games to go.
City, now five points off league leaders Shamrock Rovers, ended this game without Ronan Boyce, who was dismissed late on having received a second yellow for obstructing a quick Sligo throw in.
City's first sight of goal arrived just short of the half hour when veteran goalkeeper Richard Brush produced a two-handed save to keep out Danny Mullen's shot on the turn. The same player could only fire wide from close range moments later.
Sligo's Greg Bolger came close for the hosts when he skewed a first-time volley wide of Maher's posts on 38 minutes.
Rovers were the more impressive side in the second period as the visitors looked vulnerable at the back.
Derry's game plan was thrown into chaos ten minutes from time when Boyce was shown a second yellow after he attempted to stop a quick Sligo throw in.
But things got even worse for the FAI Cup holders on 84 minutes when the unmarked Radosavljevic bundled Hutchinson's cross past Maher from six yards out.
Rovers' Faroese striker should have settled this game three minutes from time but Radosavljevic skied Kailin Barlow's cross over Maher's crossbar from point-blank range.
Sligo Rovers: Richard Brush; Niall Morahan (Stefan Radosavljevic 79), John Mahon (Nando Pijnaker HT), Garry Buckley, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Lukas Browning 79), David Cawley; Johan Brannefalk (Frank Liivak 55), Robbie Burton (Kailin Barlow 63), Karl O'Sullivan; Pedro Martelo.
Derry City: Brian Maher; Ronan Boyce, Ciaran Coll, Cameron McJannett, Ben Doherty (Brandon Kavanagh 87); Sadou Diallo (Cameron Dummigan 69), Will Patching; Paul McMullan (Jordan McEneff 83), Adam O'Reilly, Michael Duffy; Danny Mullen (Cian Kavanagh 69).
Referee: Rob Harvey.
Attendance: 2.491.
