To put Sligo Rovers home and away form into context. We have 7 away WINS. We have 8 home GOALS.
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To put Sligo Rovers home and away form into context. We have 7 away WINS. We have 8 home GOALS.
Sligo opened up on the front foot and could well have hit front before 20 mins had elapsed.No fouls
Micky Duffy scores a brilliant goal on 30mins and Dundalk players are getting hit hard and heavy from the Sligo players almost straight after! 2 SR booked in a four min period after that goal.
Hoban scores on 78 mins,SR player in the book straight after it.
#Frustration :bad:
Sometimes you need a proper coach.:cool:
Just wondering is there much talk of Rovers fans coming up tomorrow night to one of their favourite away grounds? They may be out of all cups etc, but there is a still a chance they can finish 3rd (long shot) or 4th and hope that will be enough to qualify for Europe pending cup finalist.
Dundalk have a great opportunity to go 6 points clear with the same games played, but I`m taking nothing for granted in this match, we lost 1-0 at home to Rovers last summer in a back match, will need to be at it right from the start tomorrow night.
I`d imagine this will be significantly higher crowd that the Finn Harps match (1,800) on Friday, even if it is a Tuesday, schools still off and this is our 4th last home league game.
I'd say small enough traveling support tonight , Tuesdays/midweek in general are a killer even for us at home let alone away and then there are the other issues in Oriel which we are all to bored to discuss again.
I know this is a rearranged game but they were discussing on the greatest league in the world podcast at the weekend that the first two rounds of the cup should be played midweek on the basis that crowds are probably only hardcore anyway. 1000 at the Cork match as a for instance.
If they extended the league by another 2 weeks and did that with the cup that would be 4 less midweek league matches.
If its a long shot for us to pull 4 points back off Waterford assuming we lose tonight I'm guessing you will be calling the league over tonight if you win and go 6 clear with a goal difference that makes it 7 in reality :)
If we win tomorrow, and that won’t be a formality, that would put us 6 points clear, but it will certainly not be over in my book. I don’t like looking past one game generally, however seeing as you asked !
After tomorrow night, both Dundalk and Cork would be expected to win on Friday, Dundalk away to Limerick, and Cork at home to Sligo, so it would still be potentially 6 points. The weekend after it’s the cup games, then 14/09 Cork are away to Bohs (I think) and Dundalk have no game (due to Derry in EA Final), so Cork could narrow it down to 3 points, (albeit one more game played) then the next game is between the two on 21/09, so chance for Cork to go level, or Dundalk to go 6 clear again with a game in hand, or a draw, so who knows?
I’d say if Dundalk avoid defeat in Cork, it will be looking increasingly likely the title will be going back to Oriel Park, but lots of football to played before then, and points could be dropped by both clubs over the next 3 or 4 weeks.
Even if Dundalk win against Rovers on Tuesday the 6 point gap is far from insurmountable.
Dundalk have lost 2 league matches this season - away to Cork and away to Waterford, Both of these away matches are part of the 7 matches remaining after Rovers. A win tomorrow followed by a win over Limerick and any unbeaten result in Turners Cross and the title would be close but not certain. Favourites, but certainly not a done deal.
“The Leaving Cert had a big part in Aaron Bolger not featuring more in the season but that’s over now so Aaron is like any other player now, competing for a starting place in the team."
:eek:
Even 2 losses, including us, and yed win on goal difference. As disappointing at it is at this stage, the leagues over practically. Dundalk are too good a side to slip up 3 times in this many games.If we'd beaten Pat's there'd be a chance, but that result finished it.
No I don't but then nobody spends as much time thinking about what he says as you do.
If I engaged my brain I'd say the web guys put a selection of quotes up from a media gig where one of the questions was probably in relation to would Aaron start against Dundalk as he did against Bohs......it reads like a collection of responses to me.
If I had a criticism it would be for the website as the quote is a bit floating and without context, but to be honest its hard to criticise volunteers so for me its a bit like every other manager quote including Kenny. Caulfield etc ...................meh.
Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley says his side are more than capable of beating leaders Dundalk tonight if they play to their potential.
And he is taking heart from the Hoops' recent record at Oriel Park as they attempt to halt a Dundalk side that is seeking to move another step closer to a historic winning run which puts them ever closer to regaining the league title.
Stephen Kenny's men are seeking their 14th league win on the trot, with the all-time record currently standing at 15.
They have taken seven points from a possible nine in their three meetings with Rovers this season, but Bradley's side pushed them close in Oriel Park.
Replay
The Hoops also won a league game at the venue last season and took a draw from their FAI Cup semi-final meeting before losing the replay in Tallaght.
However, in the aftermath of another derby defeat to Bohemians and a cup exit at the hands of Drogheda, Bradley is under pressure to restore pride and keep his side's European hopes alive.
They will fall 30 points behind Dundalk if they lose this refixed encounter.
More pertinently, they are four points behind third-placed Waterford with a game in hand and need to overtake them to be sure of UEFA funds.
"It's a massive game, a really tough game," said Bradley. "We know that Dundalk are in good form but it's a challenge that we're really looking forward to.
"We always do well up there and I'm sure it will be no different. We're capable of beating any team in the league so we're all looking forward to it.
"There's a lot of points to be played for between now and the end of the season, we just need to stay focused and get back to what we do well."
Dundalk need to win just six of their eight remaining games to be assured of taking the title back from Cork.
If they succeed in winning both of their matches this week, they would travel to face the Leesiders on September 21 to complete the all-time winning streak.
DUNDALK v SHAMROCK ROVERS
Oriel Park (7.45)
Team news: Dundalk work off the same squad as last week, Karolis Chvedukas an injury doubt and Stephen O'Donnell out for the long-term. Gary Shaw is fit again for Rovers but Luke Byrne and Sean Boyd miss out through injury, Trevor Clarke also absent long-term.
Talking point: Huge game in Dundalk's season as a win here would put them six points ahead of Cork, with a better goal difference and a massive 30 points above Rovers.
Referee: Robert Harvey
Betting: Dundalk 4/9. Rovers 6/1, Draw 3/1
Verdict: Home win
Irish Independent