Sligo Rovers captain Niall Morahan returns to the Bit O’Red’s match day squad for Saturday’s Premier Division clash with Dundalk at the Showgrounds, kick-off 7.45pm.
The Rovers skipper missed last week’s defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension courtesy of an accumulation of yellow cards, but returns in time to face the Lilywhites on Saturday. This is welcome news for manager John Russell who will be without Jack Henry-Francis, who replaced Morahan in the starting eleven for that game in Tallaght. Henry-Francis himself is unavailable for the Dundalk game as he serves a one game ban for two yellow cards picked up in that loss in Dublin.
Elsewhere Stefan Radosavljevic, John Mahon and Conor Reynolds will not take part due to injuries. Stephen Mallon is also unavailable.
While Owen Elding will be assessed leading up to the kick-off.
The teams are evenly matched this term with one win, one draw and one defeat against each other. Rovers put five past Dundalk in the first meeting of the sides in Oriel Park back in March, while the Louth men took a point from the Showgrounds one month later. John Daly’s side then took all three points in the last game between the clubs in Dundalk in June.
Rovers will look to keep up their superb home form, having won all of their last six league games on Sligo soil. While depending on the result between Drogheda and Bohs on Friday, Dundalk may have the chance to lift themselves off the foot of the table.
Russell is desperate to keep that home run going but knows that recent developments at Oriel will perhaps see Saturday’s opponents arrive in Sligo with their backs up.
“They’ve had a difficult few days but there was some good news for them a few days ago and it’s great to see that Dundalk in some way at least, seem to be heading in the right direction. I am sure spirits in the camp have been lifted with recent developments and they’ll be hoping that will translate on to the pitch.
“Either way, they’ve got some of the most talented players in the league and we know from experience how they can hurt you.
“We’re in really good form at the Showgrounds and we want to keep that run going. A strong home record is the pillar of a good season.
“I thought the result in Tallaght didn’t really reflect the true story of the game. We opened Shamrock Rovers up on several occasions when we had eleven men and we just lacked that last ball to finish them off. We’ll look to improve on that come Saturday.
“We’re very much still in the mix to finish the season the way we want to. We will get there by winning games and that’s the aim this weekend.”
David Goulden