Disappointing Derry City fall to defeat at Sligo Rovers

Sligo Rovers 1

Derry City 0

Derry City fell to their first away defeat of the season on a disappointing night in Sligo.

The Candystripes had the opportunity to go four points clear of Shamrock Rovers, but rarely threatened a goal, even through they played against 10 men for the last 15 minutes.

Sligo Rovers got off to a dream start as they opened the scoring after just four minutes. Frank Livak’s cross from the right was not dealt with and the ball fell to Will Fitzgerald at the back post, and the former City player tried his luck with a snapshot, which deflected off Cameron McJannet past his own goalkeeper from close range.

Unsurprisingly, Ruaidhri Higgins made a change at half time with Cian Kavanagh giving his team more of a presence up front and it made City more of a threat immediately.

The visitors began to threaten the Sligo goal for the first time in the game, and they almost capitalised on a mistake from David Cawley, when Jordan McEneff played Kavanagh into a shooting position, but his effort was crucially blocked by John Mahon.

City midfielder Sadou Diallo was perhaps lucky to stay on the pitch on 65 minutes when he flew into a tackle on Greg Bolger. Referee Paul McLaughlin opted for a yellow card but it meant the end of the night for Bolger, who couldn’t continue afterwards.

Ironically, it was Sligo Rovers who were then reduced to ten man, when centre-half John Mahon, already on a yellow card, was dismissed for simulation following a coming together with Ryan Graydon, leaving the home side a man short for the last 15 minutes.

Yet it was Sligo who should have doubled their lead within minutes of that dismissal when Kailin Barlow managed to creep in behind the Derry defence, but his attempted dink over Brian Maher landed just the wrong side of the post.

Derry camped in the Sligo half in the closing stages and Luke McNicholas was finally called into action to divert a piledriver from Ben Doherty, who almost found the net from 25 yards.

Sligo then might have sealed the win two minutes from time when Liivak bore down on Maher but he was unable to beat the Derry City goalkeeper at his near post.

Liivak then went through on added time, but again he failed to find the finish as he drilled the ball across goal and wide. It didn’t mater though as Derry never looked like scoring.

SLIGO ROVERS: McNicholas, Morahan, Mahon, Pijnaker (Johan Brannefalk 33’), Hutchinson; Bolger (Browning 68’), Cawley; Liivak, Barlow (Lafferty 77’), Fitzgerald, Mata.

DERRY CITY: Maher, Dummigan (B Kavanagh 71’), S McEleney, McJannet, Doherty; Diallo (Boyce 71’), O'Reilly (P McEleney 65’), McEneff (Patching 65’); Graydon, O'Neill (C Kavanagh 45’), Duffy.

REFEREE: Paul McLaughlin (Donegal).