Sligo Rovers face into a busy few days of Premier Division football as the Bit O’Red face two title challengers in quick succession. Rovers travel east for the second time in a week as St Patrick’s Athletic offer opposition at Richmond Park this Friday, before John Russell’s side welcome Shamrock Rovers to the Showgrounds on Monday.
Last weekend’s defeat to Drogheda United sees Rovers go into week three propping up the league table. But it’s early days yet as Sligo go to Pat’s in search of their first points of the season.
Rovers will be without Wilson Waweru who continues his rehab on a long-term injury. While Stephen Mallon will be assessed in the lead up to Friday’s game and is pushing to be involved following a knock picked up in a late pre-season fixture.
Looking ahead to the Saints game, manager Russell has acknowledged what has been a less than ideal opening fortnight to 2025. But the Rovers boss believes his squad have more than enough about them to turn the tide sooner rather than later.
“It’s been a tough start to the year but we’re only two games in and I have a lot of belief in this group of players”, Russell tells sligorovers.com.
“Everyone is working extremely hard each and every day and no less is allowed. We know there are areas we need to and must improve in, especially from the Drogheda game. We didn’t deserve anything from that game but we learned from it and move on to the next one.
“We’re still a new group and we’re learning about each other more and more as the days go on.
“We’ve a big weekend coming now with Pat’s and then Shams right after that. But we’re really looking forward to the challenge.”
On his old club Pat’s, Russell continues: “They have a squad capable of winning a league and that’s what they’re chasing. They’ve had what many would consider a tough start too. They’ll be dangerous. They have the players more than able to turn you over if you let them and have a manager with league and cup winning experience so it’s going to be tough for us and we need to be on our game as soon as that first whistle goes.”
One player who has stood out since his arrival in the winter and will look to make an impact again this weekend is attacking midfielder Jad Hakiki. The ex-Shels and Dundalk man was in stellar form in pre-season and scored on his competitive debut against Waterford at the Showgrounds two weeks ago.
Speaking to sligorovers.com, he acknowledges the team’s unsteady start but says the players are all confident of taking points from the upcoming games.
“Of course it takes time with so many new lads coming in”, he states.
“Yes the results weren’t the ones we wanted from the first two games but we haven’t let that put us off track.
“It takes time to gel no matter who you are but it’s up to us the players to build those connections now. The games are coming fast now so we know we need to get familiar with each other quickly. We know how good we can be, for example against Waterford in the second half, there were periods where they struggled to deal with us. We need to find that form again now.
“Pat’s obviously have a really strong squad and we all know it’ll be a tough one. But if we can reach the levels we and the fans expect from us, then there’s no doubt that we can pick up a positive result.”
David Goulden