Sligo Rovers are now nervously looking over their shoulders at the relegation of SSE Airtricity Premier Division following Saturday night’s 1-0 loss to Damien Duff’s Shelbourne at the Showgrounds.
Donegal native Mark Coyle was Shels matchwinner five minutes before half-time as his shot squeezed under the legs of Rovers teenage goalkeeper Conor Walsh.
Walsh would later save a retaken Shelbourne penalty, struck by Jack Moylan, eight minutes from time to keep his side in the match – but the home side were unable to find an equaliser on the night.
The win for Shelbourne moved them up to fifth in the table and extended their unbeaten run to seven matches.
With eight league games remaining, Rovers are now just six points above second-from-bottom Cork City.
The bottom-placed them in the Premier Division will be automatically relegated with side finishing second-from-bottom facing a promotion-relegation play-off with the First division play-off winner.
Cork City and Sligo Rovers meet next Friday night at Turners Cross (7:45pm) in what will be a live commentary game for Ocean FM
Rovers manager John Russell spoke to Ocean FM Sport’s Dónal Ryan after Saturday night’s game.
