Sligo Rovers will finally return to Saturday night football this weekend when Shamrock Rovers are the visitors to The Showgrounds.

Last weekend’s game was postponed due to dangerous conditions so Rovers have been waiting for a third game of the season.

Alex Cooper is set for a home debut while Ryan De Vries could also play if international clearance comes in time.

Kick-off will be at the slightly later time of 8pm.

The visitors are top of the table with four wins, including beating the champions Dundalk at Tallaght Stadium.

A big crowd is expected so home fans can buy online here

www.sligorovers.com/match-tickets

Away fans can pay at the away turnstiles.

Saturday’s fixture with Waterford has been postponed due to extreme weather conditions.

Due to an extreme weather warning put in place for Saturday/Sunday, the fixture will take place on a new date.

With only necessary travel advised, the decision was taken by the FAI after discussions with the club.

A new date will be arranged shortly.

Sligo Rovers take on Waterford FC in The Showgrounds on Saturday night in the SSE Airtricity League.

Rovers are searching for their first points of the season on the back of an encouraging display against Bohemians which ended in an unfortunate 2-0 defeat. 

In team news, John Mahon (broken leg), Lewis Banks (thigh), Regan Donelon (shoulder) and Danny Kane (foot) are out.

Johnny Dunleavy is doubtful with a knee problem.

Ryan De Vries is awaiting work permit and international clearance. 

Liam Buckley said: “I thought the score didn’t reflect the game on Monday. We had enough balls in the box and openings to score and it didn’t fall for us. 

“We needed to score at 1-0 when we were on top for most of the second half and unfortunately it didn’t happen. 

“We deserved a draw at least, if not shading it, but that doesn’t count for a lot now. 

“We’ve got to repeat a lot of the performance and turn it into a result because if we show the same passion and desire and quality on the ball then we will win matches, I have no doubt about that. 

“This is a big game, there’s no denying that, and for both sides because this league is going to be so difficult to pick up points every week. 

“You have to turn up, you have to be at it or you’ll end up beaten. I wanted us to start the season better and we haven’t done so, so you have to step up and dig as deep as you can. 

“Alex Cooper had a very good debut on Monday, Will Seymore moved up into midfield, we appreciated the change of shape certainly. 

“Weather conditions are going to be difficult again and it’ll be a tight game. We’ve got to make sure we’re ready to face all of what is to come and get ourselves going from the start.”

We were out and about again on Tuesday night as we visited Manorhamilton Rangers at Bee Park.

The kids enjoyed a coaching session with Niall Morahan and Darragh Noone along with community Officer Darragh Healy.

Thanks to Manorhamilton Rangers for having us.

They will be participating in the halftime mini-sided game for Saturday’s clash with Waterford FC in The Showgrounds. S

See you then guys.

Sligo Rovers face a big game on Saturday night when Waterford FC visit The Showgrounds.

Rovers go in search of their first points of the season against Alan Reynolds’ side – who have lost their last two matches.

Kick-off is 7:45pm as we return to our usual Saturday night slot.

You can buy match tickets in advance.

Away fans can buy at the turnstiles.

View images from James Fallon at Monday night’s game with Bohemians

The Sligo Rovers Lotto jackpot was won on Monday night as Marcus Mulligan from Kinlough claimed the prize.

Congratulations to Marcus on winning €10,700. It ends a run of 29 weeks without being won.

Play online now: https://t.co/9MqSF9nnpv?amp=1

Special offer for a year

Sligo Rovers have signed striker Ryan De Vries from Japanese side FC Gifu.

The 28-year-old will join Rovers subject to a work permit and international clearance.

The South African-born player has a prolific goalscoring record in New Zealand from early in his career with Waitakere United and Auckland City FC. He scored 61 goals in 121 games.

He helped Auckland reach the FIFA Club World Cup semi-final, scoring in the third-place game.

De Vries then played for Bentleigh Greens in Australia before spending the last two years in the second tier in Japan with Gifu.

He has played for the New Zealand international side.

Liam Buckley said: “The deal has been agreed for a few weeks, we were just awaiting final documentation from Japan to get his release.

“I’m delighted to get him in and we need him given our numbers up front. We hope he’ll be a major addition to us.

“He’s quick, strong, has a great physique with a good touch and I can see him scoring goals. I spoke to people in New Zealand and they think he’ll fit comfortably in our league and do really well.

“We had a report from the New Zealand international manager, we’ve done our homework on him so we hope he does bring a lot to us.

“We need to get the work permit done before he can play, that will be a small bit of time but we hope to have him involved as soon as possible.

“We are disappointed with our start in the league. But as I said to the boys last night, the passion and desire we showed against Bohemians will bring us results if we keep showing it.”

With Alex Cooper signing last week, Johnny Dunleavy likely to return this week, Danny Kane, Regan Donelon and Lewis Banks all hopefully set to return at points in March, Buckley said that will help his side in try to get the season going.  

“I’m as desperate as the fans in relation to trying pick up a result.I did see us starting better. It is just unfortunate having all of these players out.

“We lost our back four and when you do that you’re up to your gills in it when trying to find cohesion.

“There are definitely better performances in this team. We’ve got to push on to Waterford and get something now.””

Sligo Rovers were unfortunate to go down to a 2-0 defeat to Bohemians in Dalymount Park on Monday night in the SSE Airtricity League.

Rovers gave a debut to new signing Alex Cooper at left-back while Jesse Devers replaced Ronan Murray in their attack.

An error sparked a tame game to life as Bohemians clinically punished their visitors to take a ninth minute lead.

Kyle Callan-McFadden missed heading Michael Barker’s ball down the line to safety.

Bohemians striker Glen McAuley galloped away to cross. And though the centre came back off fullback Niall Morahan, the inrushing Danny Mandroiu was calmness personified as his first time side-footer found the bottom corner of the net.

The pace and tenacity of McAuley, on his 20th birthday, continued to cause Sligo problems in the early exchanges.

The former Liverpool trainee shot wide before then working a good save with his feet from Ed McGinty after Mandroiu threaded him in on goal on 15 minutes.

It was 23 minutes before Rovers threatened, winger Devers running onto David Cawley’s long ball to hold off Dan Casey and get his shot away which Stephen McGuinness ably dealt with.

McGinty was off his line quickly back at the other end just past the half hour to smother the ball at the feet of Barker from Mandroiu’s audacious flicked through ball.

Sligo finally got their fans behind the goal at the school end of the ground off their seats minutes later when Ronan Coughlan’s flicked header from Cooper’s cross flew just over the crossbar and they enjoyed their best spell of the game.

Buckley’s side remained on the front foot into the second half. Devers cleverly put Cawley in on goal to bring a smart parry save from McGuinness seven minutes in.

But the Bit o’ Red needed some desperate defending to prevent Bohemians extending their lead on 57 minutes.

Luke Wade-Slater put Mandroiu in down the inside-right channel. McGinty was out quickly to deflect the shot across his goal.

The follow-up from McAuley was mis-hit into the ground and deflected over for a corner by McFadden.

McAuley was in on goal again seven minutes later from substitute Ross Tierney’s pass. McGinty made himself big at the angle with the shot hitting the post.

Sligo rallied late on with efforts from Garry Buckley, substitute Mark Byrne and Coughlan all failing to bring an equaliser.

After McFadden cleared off the line from substitute Danny Grant, Bohemians struck right on 90 minutes.

Wade-Slater’s cross picked out winger Twardek just inside the box to tee up a low drive that arrowed past McGinty into the bottom corner.

Bohemians: Stephen McGuinness; Michael Barker, Dan Casey, Ciaran Kelly, Paddy Kirk; Keith Buckley (Ross Tierney 60), Conor Levingston; Kris Twardek (Dawson Devoy 90+3), Danny Mandroiu, Luke Wade-Slater; Glen McAuley (Danny Grant 71).

Sligo Rovers: Ed McGinty; Niall Morahan, Kyle McFadden, Teemu Penninkangas, Alex Cooper; Will Seymore, Alan Cawley; Jesse Devers (Ronan Murray 72), Garry Buckley, Darragh Noone (Mark Byrne 86); Ronan Coughlan.

Referee: Ben Connolly (Dublin).

Sligo Rovers take on Bohemians on Monday night in Dalymount Park in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division.

Rovers are looking to bounce back from Friday’s 2-0 defeat to St Patrick’s Athletic

Rovers will have the same squad for the game with the possible addition of Alex Cooper who could be granted international clearance on Monday.

Danny Kane (foot), John Mahon (broken leg), Regan Donelon (shoulder) and Lewis Banks (groin) are out.

Liam Buckley said his side have to get fundamentals right to kickstart the season.

“We huffed and puffed on Friday night and the end result was we weren’t good enough at all. We didn’t do enough in the game to get anything from it.

“We didn’t look comfortable overall so that has to be looked at. There’s lots of ability in the group and we’re not seeing it yet and that is the frustrating part.

“We were in on Saturday and Sunday as usual, there’s no sympathy in this game and we have to improve.

“We will try to get it better immediately. We have to get ourselves up and running as soon as possible and we’re looking at the overall picture now and assessing our approach.  

“Alex has come in and if we can get clearance for him on Monday morning that is another option.

“But regardless we have players within the group to be drastically better. I know what the players here can produce, I see it in training and we’ve got to start producing it.

“It’s a hard game going to Bohemians, you can see how tight games are in this league already and we’ve got to be ready for it on Monday.”