Aiming to narrow their 10-point gap to the top two in the League of Ireland Premier Division table, Shamrock Rovers will travel to take on Sligo Rovers on Friday.
The visitors lost further ground in a defeat to St Patrick's Athletic last time out, while their hosts have dropped to seventh spot following back-to-back losses.
Match preview
![Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley on October 27, 2022 [Imago]](https://sm.imgix.net/24/26/stephen-bradley.jpg?w=640&h=480&auto=compress,format&fit=clip "Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley on October 27, 2022 [Imago]")
© Imago
Sligo Rovers return to the Showgrounds on Friday with the aim of arresting a dip in their form in the League of Ireland Premier Division, having dropped deeper into the bottom half in recent weeks after an encouraging run.
Following an eighth-placed finish last time around, one spot and six points above the relegation playoff place, the Bit O'Red endured a tough start to the new campaign, sitting on 18 points from 16 outings in mid-May before making an encouraging improvement.
The following three games would produce seven more points for John Russell's team, who played out a 2-2 draw away at title-chasing Derry City before picking up consecutive 2-1 wins over league leaders Shelbourne and strugglers Drogheda United.
Russell's men have been unable to continue that upturn in form since, though, and they now head into the weekend following back-to-back top-flight defeats, firstly suffering a 4-1 beating away at Waterford before leaving Dundalk empty-handed most recently in mid-June, with Daryl Horgan netting the only goal of the game for their hosts early in the second half.
As a result of their pair of defeats earlier this month, Sligo Rovers have dropped back down to seventh spot in the League of Ireland Premier Division after 21 games, six points above the relegation playoff place and five outside of the top half, and they will set out to stop the rot and begin climbing back up the division with a return to winning ways on Friday.
Their visitors will also fight to bounce back from a defeat in their last outing, having lost further ground in their bid to retain the league title with a tough run over the last two months.
Aiming to win the Irish top flight for the fifth straight campaign and the 22nd time in their history, Shamrock Rovers did enjoy a relatively pleasing start, amassing 23 points from their first 13 outings courtesy of six victories alongside just two defeats.
Stephen Bradley's side have since fallen well behind the frontrunners in the last two months, though, adding just eight more points to that tally in eight further attempts since the beginning of May, firstly playing out two draws and suffering two defeats in a four-match span before ending the winless streak by beating Derry City 1-0.
The Hoops would then fall short in the following crucial meeting with league leaders Shelbourne, and after bouncing back with a 2-0 win away at strugglers Drogheda United thanks to goals from Johnny Kenny and Graham Burke, Bradley's men suffered another setback in their latest outing away at St Patrick's Athletic, leaving empty-handed despite leading through Kenny until the final 15 minutes as Ruairi Keating levelled the scores before Brandon Kavanagh netted a 96th-minute winner for the hosts.
Having now failed to register consecutive wins since mid-April, Shamrock Rovers find themselves third in the Irish top flight in their latest title defence, 10 points behind second-placed Derry City and 12 behind leaders Shelbourne, albeit with two games in hand on the former and one on the latter, and with just 15 matches remaining they know they require a dramatic upturn in form to remain in the race for top spot, beginning with a much-needed return to winning ways on Friday.
Team News
John Russell should field a similar Sligo Rovers starting XI to the one that featured away at Dundalk in mid-June, with Connor Malley again likely to join key man Niall Morahan in the midfield in their 4-2-3-1 setup.
Ahead of them, Ellis Chapman and winger Fabrice Hartmann will continue in a supporting trio, having each notched up four goals so far this term, while Will Fitzgerald will hope to keep his place on the left wing.
Wilson Waweru will compete with Kailin Barlow to spearhead the attack, while Charlie Wiggett and Cardiff City loanee Ollie Denham will continue to partner up at the heart of a back four in the absence of Nando Pijnaker through injury.
Shamrock Rovers may remain without first-choice goalkeeper Leon Pohls, who missed their meeting with St Patrick's Athletic through injury in mid-June, while defender Josh Honohan was forced off in the first half of that game and will be subject to a fitness test.
His absence would compound the Hoops' defensive concerns, with Daniel Cleary and Trevor Clarke also confined to the treatment room, and Stephen Bradley may opt for a change of shape as a result with Richie Towell pushing to come in and join Dylan Watts and Darragh Nugent in the midfield, while Aaron McEneff will also contend to feature after missing the St Patrick's Athletic meeting.
Aaron Greene and Celtic loanee Johnny Kenny will continue their dangerous strike partnership, having notched up eight and nine goals respectively so far this season, while Graham Burke will continue to lend further attacking support through the centre.
Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:
McGinty; Wilson, Wiggett, Denham, Hutchinson; Morahan, Malley; Hartmann, Chapman, Fitzgerald; Waweru
Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Steacy; Farrugia, Lopes, Grace, Poom; Towell, Watts, Nugent; Burke; Greene, Kenny
We say: Sligo Rovers 1-2 Shamrock Rovers
Although Shamrock Rovers have failed to show their quality consistently in this season's title defence, they do still boast plenty of threat and will back themselves to bounce back to winning ways against a Sligo Rovers team lacking confidence following consecutive defeats.
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