Sligo Rovers vs Shelbourne - prediction, team news, lineups

Shelbourne tin instrumentality a measurement towards the League of Ireland's European spots by getting the amended of relegation-threatened hosts Sligo Rovers connected Saturday astatine the Showgrounds.

Sligo are 2nd past successful ninth with conscionable 19 points, whereas their opponents are 5th with 30 points aft 22 matchweeks, and the visitors are 7 points and 2 places from the division's Conference League qualifiers.

Match preview

The hosts suffered a melodramatic 2-0 decision to St. Patrick's Athletic connected June 19, conceding the opening extremity successful the 3rd infinitesimal of second-half stoppage time.

That was Sligo Rovers' 12th nonaccomplishment successful 21 matchweeks, and the effect near successful the relegation playoff spot, 3 points down eighth-placed Drogheda United.

Head coach John Russell volition besides beryllium rightly acrophobic by last-placed Waterford, who are 3rd successful the signifier array implicit their past 5 games, and they are lone 5 points from his team.

The Bit O'Red person faced Shelbourne doubly this campaign, losing 1-0 successful March astatine location earlier settling for a goalless stalemate connected May 8.

Heading into Saturday's clash, Sligo person suffered losses successful each of their 3 astir caller outings, portion they person lone experienced triumph erstwhile successful their past 8 matches.

Russell's squad are besides winless successful 3 contests at the Showgrounds, with his players hoping to debar a 3rd consecutive decision astatine home.

While Shelbourne indispensable flooded a seven-point shortage to drawback third-placed Bohemians, they boast the vantage of a crippled successful hand.

However, the Shels squandered their accidental to determination wrong 4 points of Bohs connected Monday, erstwhile they were beaten 3-0 by them successful a frustratingly stale performance.

The Reds were incapable to muster a azygous effort connected target, and they person present failed to people successful 2 of their past 5 games.

Shelbourne lone won 1 of those 5 clashes - they drew 3 times - and they conceded 7 times, whereas they had lone conceded 4 goals successful their anterior 5 fixtures.

Boss Joey O'Brien volition astatine slightest beryllium pleased that his broadside person continued to asseverate themselves connected the road, with the nine undefeated successful their past 5 distant games, a play successful which they claimed 3 points twice.

Sligo Rovers League of Ireland Premier form:

Shelbourne League of Ireland Premier form:

Team News

Though Sligo failed to instrumentality 3 points against St. Patrick's Athletic, centre-backs Gareth McElroy and Sean Stewart were fantabulous for ample periods, and they tin beryllium pencilled into the lineup connected Saturday.

The 2 defenders are apt to beryllium positioned down a treble pivot consisting of James McManus and Carl McHugh, who whitethorn beryllium asked to supply enactment to the likes of Mai Traore up front.

Shelbourne striker Sean Boyd came connected from the seat against Bohemians, but helium was sent off, truthful helium volition not beryllium capable to marque an interaction arsenic a substitute.

Centre-forward Wood was taken disconnected owed to an wounded past clip out, and his imaginable lack this play could pb to Daniel Kelly being joined successful a beforehand 2 by Ali Coote.

Perhaps Kameron Ledwidge, Paddy Barrett and Sean Gannon volition look successful a three-man defence down a midfield trio featuring Jack Henry-Francis, Ellis Chapman and Evan Caffrey.

Sligo Rovers imaginable starting lineup:

Sargeant; Esua, McElroy, Stewart, McDonagh; McManus, McHugh; O'Kane, Patton, Fitzgerald; Traore

Shelbourne imaginable starting lineup:

Speel; Gannon, Barrett, Ledwidge; Mbeng, Henry-Francis, Chapman, Caffrey, Norris; Kelly, Coote

We say: Sligo Rovers 0-1 Shelbourne

Shelbourne's inconsistencies marque it hard to envisage them winning comfortably, and immoderate triumph connected Saturday would apt beryllium by a one-goal margin.

Sligo Rovers person suffered casualties successful the guardant line, and if they concede first, they whitethorn conflict to get backmost connected level terms.

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