Ten-man Sligo Rovers were unlucky not to take all three points at the Ryan McBride Brandywell on Monday evening.

A stunning Connor Malley strike in the first half had Rovers in a more than deserved lead against Derry City, however an unfortunate Reece Hutchinson own goal allowed the hosts slip back into this game.

Rovers were up against it for the last quarter of this tie when Luke Pearce was shown a second yellow card following a challenge on City goalkeeper Brian Maher. However, John Russell’s side remained a constant threat and looked the most likely to claim a winner which never arrived. 

The draw sees Rovers keep pace with the sides near the summit of the league, sitting just six points off leaders Shels. 

The away side hit the front on 34 minutes when man of the match Jack Henry-Francis teed up Malley for a sumptuous long range strike into the corner of Maher’s goal. 

Derry emptied their talented bench at the interval in an attempt to wrangle a way back into this one and were handed an equaliser on 53 when a mix-up between Hutchinson and Ed McGinty saw the former turn the ball into his own net. 

Now also up against a buoyed home support, Rovers steadied the ship with a few super saves from McGinty.

While both Will Fitzgerald and Ellis Chapman fashioned chances at the far end as Derry held on. 

Pearce was shown a second yellow on 75 for what looked like an innocuous challenge on Maher. 

Despite the disadvantage, it was a determined Rovers who looked most likely to produce a winner.

Fitzgerald fired narrowly over from an Owen Elding cross with seven to go. 

Derry City: Brian Maher, Ronan Boyce, Mark Connolly, Andre Wisdom (Colm Whelan, Ciaran Coll; Sadou Diallo (Sean Robertson 85), Adam O’Reilly (Patrick McEleney HT), Will Patching (Jacob Davenport HT); Michael Duffy, Pat Hoban (Daniel Mullen 36), Paul McMullan

Sligo Rovers: Edward McGinty, John Ross Wilson, Niall Morahan, Oliver Denham, Reece Hutchinson; Jack Henry-Francis, Connor Malley; Ellis Chapman (Owen Elding 73); Simon Power, Luke Pearce, Will Fitzgerald.

Referee: Paul Norton (Dublin)