Morrison could make Rovers return on Saturday

Sligo Rovers take on St Patrick’s Athletic on Saturday in the SSE Airtricity Premier Division in The Showgrounds

Rovers are six points behind the Saints going into the match – it is the first meeting of the season between the teams due to the away fixture being postponed and scheduled for next month.

In team news, Lewis Morrison has progress quicker than anticipated and could feature in the squad. Michael Schlingermann will not feature due to injury.

Gerard Lyttle said: “Our game plan was working really well in Cork and the performance was good.  I don’t think they had to work too hard for their goal which was disappointing. We didn’t defend that as you would hope. But I thought we played well and we take the positives from it.

“In the two matches we used the squad and all of the players did well. We keep saying it that we have good players here and it’s up to them to hold on to the jersey.

“In between the Limerick and Cork games, I went to St Pat’s against Waterford and I was very impressed by them. They had a bit of everything, they were organised, well-drilled and played really good football. Their squad is one of the best in the league, and had an amount of experience to call upon from the bench as well. We’re in for a tough game.

“Putting in an honest effort, a hard-working shift, the fans getting behind you in The Showgrounds, it’s what Sligo Rovers is about. In the Derry game, we didn’t do it, we let them down as I said.

“We needed a response and got that in Limerick. Now that we’re back in The Showgrounds, it’s a chance to turn around the run we’ve had here.”

Saturday’s game also marks one year to the day since Lyttle was appointed Rovers manager.

“I was brought in to keep the club up last season and achieved that. We are working on the second goal which is to stabilise the club and kick-on. This club is set up for big things.

“The infrastructure, the fan base, the backing it gets, but it will take time.

“We’d like to be a further up the table but I feel we are getting there. It will take some years to get to where we want to be in a competitive league but I feel we will.”

The Saints will be looking to maintain their good form shown last Monday when they defeated Waterford FC 1-0 at home in Richmond Park thanks to a first goal in St Pat’s colours for midfielder Ryan Brennan.

“I was pleased with the result on Monday against Waterford.  We can see improvements in the level of our performances over recent weeks and that comes from work in training and everyone working hard,” Buckley told stpatsfc.com.

Looking ahead to the prospect of facing the Bit O’Red, the Pat’s manager outlined that another good performance from his players would be required if they were to pick up points on Saturday.

“We’ve seen a good bit of Sligo lately and I have been impressed with their play.  They are probably very similar to us in that they have been improving over the last weeks, and they were only 10 or 15 minutes away from picking up a point down in Cork during the week.  I am sure that Gerard Lyttle will have them well prepared and aiming for a win.”

In team news, Saints’ manager Liam Buckley will make a late call on several players following two games in the last week.

The 1-0 win over Waterford on Monday saw Pat’s pick up a fifth clean sheet of the league season to date and for defender Lee Desmond, the defensive effort from the whole team from one to eleven on the field is a source of pride.

“It is great that we have kept the few clean sheets this season to date as it gives everyone confidence to know that we can keep it tight both home and away.  We’ve been lucky to have everyone fit in defence and there is a strong group of seven or eight defenders so the competition for places keeps us all on our toes.”

Having not played Sligo Rovers yet this season, Desmond admits that the Saints are going to become very familiar with the Bit O’Red with two fixtures coming up in quick succession.  For the Dubliner though, the aim is to try and get an away win in the first of the matches between the sides.

“With two games coming up against Sligo, it gives us the chance to stay ahead of them in the table and try to move up a bit.  We want to be looking to climb the table and not be looking behind us so hopefully we can pick a result on Saturday against Sligo.”