Derry host Sligo in battle to stay in title race

Derry City are targeting a fourth win on the bounce and are unbeaten in their last 11 league games as they host Sligo Rovers this evening, Tuesday, September 13 (kick off 7.45 pm).

Sligo ended a tough week with a good 2-0 win at Shelbourne on Friday.

They head to the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium after the original fixture was postponed because of Sligo’s involvement in Europe.

A win tonight will put Derry City within one point of league title leaders Shamrock Rovers.

But Rovers will have two games in hand and will face Shelbourne on Thursday evening at Tolka Park.

A Shamrock win would restore their four point advantage over Derry City with still a game in hand.

Said Derry City manager Ruaidhri Higgins: “There is a lot of football still to be played and plenty can happen between now and the end of the season.

“So we’re just concentrating on ourselves and taking each game as it comes.

“Slgo are coming here on the back of successive league wins themselves and in Adrian Keena have the league’s current top goalscorer, so we’re well aware we will need to be at our best.”

Higgins was satisfied with Friday night’s win over Bohemians that lifted his side back into second place in the table.

“It was a difficult game in different ways, but the players gave everything,” he said.

“Michael Duffy’s sensational goal gave us a thoroughly deserved win. Our supporters were absolutely brilliant too and the Brandywell was rocking. The difference they can make on nights like that is really massive – the players responded to it.”

Ciaran Coll’s nasty neck injury saw the Bohs game stopped for 15 minutes in the first half and although the left-back is recovering well, he will miss Tuesday’s match.

“Ciaran is out and Sadou Diallo had to come off against Bohs as well,” Higgins confirmed.

“Declan Glass is very near a return to the squad so we’ll have a look at both of them at the start of the week and decide then.”

The win over Shels meant Sligo stayed within 10 points of St Pat’s in the race for Europe and manager John Russell said he was: “Pleased by the character shown last weekend. We grew into the game and got a good result away from home.

“Tonight will be another tough test. Derry are in decent form and have some good attacking players so we know we will have to be at our best.

Rovers continue to be without long-term absentees Garry Buckley and Seamas Keogh.

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