The Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium is Sligo Rovers’ destination this Friday evening, as the Bit O’Red travel to face Derry City in the Premier Division, kick-off 7.45pm.

This will be the second time the teams will have met this season, following a scoreless draw between the sides at the Showgrounds in late February. 

In team news, Rovers will be without central defensive pair John Mahon (achilles) and Nando Pijnaker (ribs), while wingers Simon Power (groin) and Will Fitzgerald (foot) will also sit this one out.

Ollie Denham, Wilson Waweru and Owen Elding will be assessed before kick-off as they each look to shake off respective knocks.   

Speaking ahead of the game in Derry, Rovers boss John Russell said he’s looking for a reaction from last Friday’s defeat to Bohs in Sligo: 

“We were very disappointed with our performance last week against Bohs”, he said. “We all sat down during the week and reviewed the game and to be honest, there were some hard truths.

“Yes, we are down bodies at the moment with so many injuries but that was no excuse for the performance against Bohs. I and the staff are looking for a big reaction from the players. We still have a lot of quality in the squad and in whatever team we send out on Friday against Derry. I want to see the fight and desire necessary to pick up points in this league.”