BETTER THAN THIS!
Sligo boss Lyttle is confident his team can claw their way up the table with positive results and some momentum
ON paper, Gerard Lyttle believes Sligo Rovers are better than their league position. But the Bit o’ Red boss knows all too well they have to start proving it on the pitch as they prepare to welcome runaway league Cork City to the Showgrounds tonight. A late headed equaliser from defender Michael Leahy earned Sligo a point from Friday’s 1-1 draw at St Pat’s. But it wasn’t enough to stop them dropping into the relegation zone in the ever intriguing dogfight in the bottom half of the table. “Games like that have taught me that I might have a heart attack!” said Lyttle of their draw in Inchicore. “That was a great advert for our game. It was played with passion and pride and there was good football played. “It was attacking, it was good. In the end it wasn’t good enough for us – we didn’t get the three points. But we’ll show a lot of positives from it and hopefully kick on.” And Lyttle hopes that can begin tonight as Cork bring their unbeaten start to the season to Yeats Country. “Listen, this game is massive,” said Lyttle. “The next game is massive and the game after that. “It’s not a cliche, it really is the case that every game we play is going to be a big game. “We just need to keep picking up points and claw away from the bottom end. “To be fair, we can do that. I don’t think on paper that we are a bottom-half team. “Through a couple of positive results and a bit of momentum we can climb up the table.” Lyttle is without suspended skipper John Russell while fellow midfielder Daniel Kearns is out through injury. Raff Cretaro and Craig Roddan, unused substitutes against St Pat’s due to knocks, have both been passed fit. Cork boss John Caulfield is wary of the threat Sligo pose, especially on home turf. “Sligo has always been an awkward game for us,” said Caulfield. “Sligo are one of those teams who are always exceptionally strong at home. “Gerard Lyttle has taken over and every time a new manager comes in to a team it always gives them a lift. “They’ve some very good players with the likes of Sadlier and Russell in midfield. “It will be a difficult game for us and, as I say, every week is a different challenge for us” With the short turnaround from Friday, Caulfield may rotate his side slightly. Garry Buckley looks set to miss out through injury while fellow midfielders Gearóid Morrissey and Steven Beattie are doubts and will be assessed this morning.