By Gerard Mulreaney (@gerardmulreaney)
Bray Wanderers and Sligo Rovers will meet on Monday night at the Carlisle Grounds (pictured) in what is a huge 6-pointer so early in the season. Both sides have had poor results so far this season, Bray losing three in a row following their opening day draw at Dundalk, while Sligo lost three out of four home games.
Sligo manager Gerard Lyttle wants his side to get out of the blocks much earlier than they have been of late saying, "We haven't started well in all four games and we've dramatically improved in the second half in all four. You just can't afford to do it and we have to rectify it. We got confidence from how we played in the second half against Waterford and I want that for 90 minutes, which I know we can produce, and it will win us games.”
Lyttle continued, “We've been done by one goal in the Limerick and Waterford matches. I think the first half on Friday was the poorest we've been in the time I've been here. We were much, much better in the second half and had we taken our chances we'd have won the game because at 1-1 we had them there for the taking from the pressure being put on. We were hit by the sucker goal at the end. But you can't just look at that.”
The bitored will welcome back influential midfielder Rhys McCabe, following his 1-game suspension after his red-card against Cork and Lyttle is glad to have him back, "Rhys is a welcome addition back to the squad. There's a bug that affected training a bit on Sunday but it was a bubbly session too because the manner of the defeat on Friday was hurtful and you can see the lads want to put it right and put in a consistent performance. We're going there with that intention."
The Sligo boss knows that both sides will go for a win on Monday night, and he thinks a game away from Home might be just what his side need. He said, "I think we are looking forward to an away game if I'm honest. We need the change of scenery after the way the games have transpired.”
"Bray were very compact against Limerick and tried to play on the break. I expect them to come out a little more being at home. It's fair to say both teams really want the points on the back of the results so far.”
Sligo will have to do without Patrick McClean as he’s suffering with a hamstring injury while Regan Donelon is also doubtful with a hamstring problem. Gary Boylan is a doubt with illness.
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