Madd: This is massive for Saints
St Patrick’s Athletic v Sligo Rovers 7.45pm
WITH this fixture twice postponed due to bad weather, Simon Madden wants things pitch perfect when Sligo finally visit Richmond Park tonight.
Saints haven’t lost at home since the opening night of the season when they unluckily went down 3-2 to champions Cork City.
And Liam Buckley’s side are now unbeaten in six league games at fortress Inchicore.
“It’s massive for us,” said right-back Madden whose side drew 0-0 with the Bit O’red at The Showgrounds last month. “We’ll be looking to win and carry on our good form.
“It’s a little strange to play Sligo again so close to our last game with them but that’s the nature of the league. The pitch in Sligo didn’t really suit us but we dug in, picked up another clean sheet and came away with a good point.”
While Saints continue without midfielder Owen Garvan due to illness, Sligo – beaten by a late goal at Dundalk on Friday – arrive depleted by injuries.
Defenders Patrick Mcclean and Regan Donelon, midfielders David Cawley and Eduardo Pincelli along with striker Raff Cretaro all join goalkeeper Micheal Schlingermann on the sidelines.
“The injuries are definitely because of the run of games,” said Sligo boss Gerard Lyttle whose side will be playing their fourth in 11 days.
“It isn’t fair and it’s not just Sligo Rovers in this situation. We can’t train, we can’t recover properly and now we have to cope with six players out because of all the games we’ve played in a short space of time.”