LOI preview: Break over and Sligo eye winning bounce, with in-form Waterford heading to the Showgrounds

RTÉ News​

a day ago

As it has been for more than a few weeks now, Sligo Rovers' quest for league points is paramount and the Premier Division's basement club welcome Waterford FC to the Showgrounds this evening, seeking only a second win this season on their home patch.
Rovers boss John Russell is steadfast in his view that his side can turn it around. Recent performances would indicate that Sligo are not mere cannon fodder in this league; they have been scoring goals, but defensive lapses are costing them dearly. Their fixture before the mid-season break saw them lose 1-0 at home to St Pat's Athletic.
On Good Friday, the Bit O'Red thumped Waterford 4-0 at the RSC, a result that brought Keith Long's time at the club to an end. Enter Coleman, who previously had a spell in charge of Sligo.
The experienced 62-year-old joined the Blues with more than 1200 games as boss under his belt having also worked at the likes of Accrington Stanley, Gillingham and Rochdale in England.
He steadied a leaking ship, with some of Waterford's recent games – most notably that 2-2 draw with Pat's at Richmond Park – an indication that their true worth is higher than their current position of eight in the table.
In team news, Ollie Denham is Rovers' only injury concern in the lead up to this evening's clash. The centre-half continues to struggle with a sports hernia injury but is expected to return to training next week.
For Waterford, Rowan McDonald is out through suspension, while Kacper Radkowski remains absent after picking up an ankle injury prior to the mid-season break.
Trae Coyle, Matty Smith and Andy Boyle remain injured, with Coleman hopeful of having Trae Coyle and Andy Boyle back involved in matchday squads in the coming weeks.
Looking ahead to the game, John Russell feels there is more to come from his young squad.
He told sligorovers.com: "The players have enjoyed their short breaks and have come back in great shape knowing what is ahead of us. It was important that the lads were able to switch off for a brief period and enjoy time with family and friends before returning fully focused earlier this week. They are refreshed and ready to face Waterford and what's ahead in the coming weeks.
"Obviously, we completed the first half of the season in a position we do not want to be in. That is why myself and the staff here have been working through the summer break as the planning went on in an effort to try and lift us from our current position.
"We sent the players away after the defeat to Pat's and asked them all to reflect on how things have gone the last few months. A few haven't reached their potential, while some of the lads, particularly our younger ones have done really, really well considering the difficult circumstances.
"But we are all working extremely hard to turn this around and I think if we continue to do so, we absolutely will lift ourselves away from where we are in the table."
As for Coleman, it's about building on the work done so far under his stewardship, while not underestimating what the hosts will bring at the Showgrounds.
Speaking to waterfordfc.ie, he said: "I think Sligo's performances are better than what the league table suggests and what their points total suggests. We're going to have to be at our very best tomorrow.
"Our players are under no illusions at how important the task is ahead of us, and that's the same for any team you go to in this league.
"I've gone on record in recent weeks saying how impressed I've been with the league since I came back, so we know we can't drop our own standards that we've set out in recent weeks.
"Everyone can see we're playing good football, and we've got to translate that into results – starting in Sligo."