Sligo Rovers will be at Waterford Regional Sports Centre on Friday for the Premier Division game with home side Waterford.
To see all of our predictions, user poll & stats for Waterford v Sligo Rovers, scroll down - as well as the best betting odds.
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Form Guide
Waterford
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Waterford head into this game following on from a 0-0 Premier Division draw versus Dundalk.
In that game, Waterford had 49% possession and 7 shots on goal with 2 of them on target. For their opponents, Dundalk got 14 shots at goal with 6 of them on target.
It has been a rare occasion in recent games that Waterford haven’t conceded. In fact, Waterford have been scored against in 5 of their previous 6 matches, giving up 8 goals during that time. That sort of pattern might not be sustained into this next game, however.
Analysis of their past results shows that Waterford:
- are unbeaten in the league by Sligo Rovers in their previous 2 matches.
- are undefeated in their last 4 league matches at home.
Sligo Rovers
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Sligo Rovers will go into the clash following a 3-1 Premier Division win with the defeat of Drogheda United in their previous match.
In that game, Sligo Rovers managed 48% possession and 11 shots on goal with 4 on target. For Sligo Rovers, the goalscorers were Max Mata (21', 26') and Wilson Waweru (86'). On the other side, Drogheda United got 19 shots at goal with 6 on target. Andrew Quinn (58') was the scorer for Drogheda United.
A succession of outstanding showings by the Sligo Rovers defensive players has resulted in the number of goals they’ve conceded amounting to 4 from their previous 6 clashes combined. In that period, the number of goals that they have scored themselves amounts to 10.
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Head to head
Looking over their prior head to head meetings stretching back to 18/08/2020 shows that Waterford have won 2 of these and Sligo Rovers 3, with the tally of drawn games standing at 1.
13 goals were scored between them throughout the course of those matches, with 5 of them for The Blues and 8 for The Bit o' Red. That’s an average goals per game figure of 2.17.
The previous league clash featuring these clubs was Premier Division match day 29 on 02/10/2021 and the score finished Sligo Rovers 1-1 Waterford.
The match was refereed by John McLoughlin.
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Team News: Waterford
The Waterford manager Keith Long doesn’t have any fitness concerns to speak of ahead of this match thanks to a fully injury-free squad to pick from.
We are thinking that The Blues look set to use the 5-4-1 system featuring Sam Sargeant, Harvey Macadam, Grant Horton, Kacper Radkowski, Darragh Leahy, Ryan Burke, Maleace Asamoah, Rowan McDonald, Barry Baggley, Connor Parsons and Padraig Amond.
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Team News: Sligo Rovers
Thanks to a mainly full-strength squad, there is only the sole fitness problem for the Sligo Rovers manager John Russell to be concerned about. John Mahon (Achilles tendon problems) won’t be in action.
From our viewpoint, The Bit o' Red appear most likely to utilise a 4-3-3 system, choosing Ed McGinty, John Ross Wilson, Ollie Denham, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson, Niall Morahan, Connor Malley, Ellis Chapman, Fabrice Hartmann, Max Mata and Simon Power.
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Prediction
Our feeling is that Sligo Rovers and Waterford should play out a closely-fought contest here.
Little in this one, and it’s almost too close to call. We’re therefore expecting a tight encounter with a 1-1 draw at the end of the 90.
Our expert partners are tipping over 1.5 goals for this match. Check out their VIP predictions here.
Victor Martins,
16:11 28/03/2024
⚽️ Team Focus:
Waterford
Formed: 1930
Stadium: Waterford Regional Sports Centre (5,160)
Captain: Barry Baggley
Chairman: Marc O’Donovan-Wyatt
Manager: Keith Long
Competitions: Premier Division position 4
⭐ Star Man: Maleace Asamoah
Normally taking to the field in the Right Wing position, Maleace Asamoah was born in Oxford, England. Having made a first senior appearance for Waterford in the 2024 season, the skilful Forward has contributed 2 league goals in the Premier Division 2024 campaign to date from a total of 6 appearances.