Sligo Rovers take on unbeaten Dundalk in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division on Saturday in The Showgrounds.
The Bit o’ Red secured four points in two games away from home last week, countering a disappointing run at home at the start of the season, and they are now targeting an improvement on return to The Showgrounds.
In team news, Rovers have a full squad to choose from, with Regan Donelon and John Mahon recovering from injury.
Gerard Lyttle said: “The two games gave us more belief. Our home form last year was very strong, and it hasn’t been this year, but I do think we’ve been unlucky, with the Limerick and Waterford games in mind.
“Last week lifted us, we got some more points on the board and we could have had more. I don’t think that being at home is a problem for us, it’s more than it hasn’t gone our way but we have to go change that. This is a game to show us where we are.
“Last year Cork City were a big scalp when they were unbeaten and everybody wanted to beat them. It applies to Dundalk in a way now, particularly given they haven’t conceded a goal. We want to be the team to score and win against them, it’s one we look forward to.
“We’ve been able to play XI v XI this week in training. It’s not something I can recall too much in my time here! It has given us a chance to try some things out and we have the options there. We want to get to a position where Sligo Rovers have a squad like Dundalk.
“I looked at the team they put out against Portadown during the week – players that weren’t starting so far this season – and the calibre of the team was eye-catching. We want to get to that position. In the time I’ve been here the squad has improved and I think the supporters can see that. It will take time for us to get it right – we are still conceding poor goals that are disappointing and the target for us is clean sheets. We know we can score goals but if we keep conceding like we are it will make it very difficult. We had this week to look at some things and try to eradicate it.
“The Derry game was one where we scored first, we controlled it, kept the ball better and we’ll keep working and working to get that on a consistent basis. We’re excited to be back in The Showgrounds. The fans have been brilliant so far, and we’ll need them on Saturday night because this is a huge challenge. But we can’t wait to take it on.”
