Sligo Rovers Vs University College Dublin Match Analysis And Prediction

Republished By Plato

Followers: 0

Sligo Rovers will be looking to keep pressure on the top three of the League of Ireland Premier when they welcome University College Dublin to The Showgrounds on Sunday.

The hosts head into the contest off the back of success in Europe over the past couple of weeks, while UCD continue to extend their winless run further as they edge closer towards relegation out of the top flight.

Sligo Rovers return to domestic action for the first time in over two weeks on Sunday, since defeating Shelbourne 3-1 on July 2.

They have had their attentions fixed on their two-legged Europa Conference tie with Bala Town instead, which they scraped through following a scare on Thursday.

A 2-1 victory in Wales last week had set the Irish side up nicely for their return home in midweek, but after losing the second leg 1-0 in front of their own fans, they were forced into the extra time.

Either sides failed to find a winner during the additional 30 minutes, but Sligo came out victorious by a 4-3 scoreline in the penalty shootout to set up a tie with Scottish side Motherwell in the second round of qualifying next week.

However, attention must temporarily switch back to domestic action for the time being, and a five-game unbeaten run in the League of Ireland leaves Sligo in fifth place.

Meanwhile, UCD could not have endured a much worse campaign up to this point, having won just one of their opening 22 matches, so far.

The bottom-placed outfit were condemned to a fourth consecutive defeat, having been beaten 3-1 at home by Bohemians last Thursday.

UCD have lost seven times and drawn twice in their last nine meetings with Sligo, and it could be a toll order for them to avoid a fifth consecutive defeat at the weekend.

Sligo Rovers vs University College Dublin head to head

The two teams have previously met on 52 occasions across all competitions, where Sligo have claimed 28 victories while UCD have won 16, and they have drawn in eight. Sligo have scored 88 goals and conceded 49. In their last five meetings, Sligo have won three while they have drawn twice.

Sligo Rovers 4-0 UCD 07/09/19

UCD 0-2 Sligo Rovers 20/09/19

UCD 1-3 Sligo Rovers 30/08/20

Sligo Rovers 2-2 UCD 09/04/22

UCD 1-1 Sligo Rovers 27/05/22

Sligo Rovers latest home form

Sligo Rovers have recently been on a good run of form at home, having been unbeaten in their eight most recent matches. The defeated Bala Town through penalties in their last home game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored nine goals and conceded four.

Sligo Rovers 1-1 St Patrick’s Athletic 14/05/22

Sligo Rovers 2-1 Derry City 23/05/22

Sligo Rovers 3-0 Finn Harps 18/06/22

Sligo Rovers 3-1 Shelbourne 02/07/22

Sligo Rovers (P)0-1 Bala Town 14/07/22

Sligo Rovers latest away form

Sligo Rovers have recently been on a relatively good run of form on the road, having been unbeaten in their three most recent matches. They defeated Bala Town 2-1 in their last away game in the Europa Conference League. In their last five matches, they have scored five goals and conceded seven.

Shamrock Rovers 3-1 Sligo Rovers 09/05/22

Bohemians 2-1 Sligo Rovers 20/05/22

UCD 1-1 Sligo Rovers 27/05/22

Drogheda United 0-0 Sligo Rovers 24/06/22

Bala Town 1-2 Sligo Rovers 07/07/22

University College Dublin latest home form

University College Dublin have recently been on a poor run of form at home, having failed to win any of their 11 most recent matches. They lost 3-1 to Bohemians in their last home game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored four goals and conceded 10.

UCD 2-2 Dundalk 06/05/22

UCD 0-3 Shamrock Rovers 19/05/22

UCD 1-1 Sligo Rovers 27/05/22

UCD 0-1 Derry City 24/06/22

UCD 1-3 Bohemians 07/07/22

University College Dublin latest away form

University College Dublin have recently failed to keep a good run of form on the road, having won just one of their 11 most recent matches. They lost 3-0 to Dundalk in their last away game in the league. In their last five matches, they have scored two goals and conceded 10.

Bohemians 3-0 UCD 29/04/22

Finn Harps 0-1 UCD 13/05/22

Shelbourne 2-0 UCD 23/05/22

St Patrick’s Athletic 2-1 UCD 17/06/22

Dundalk 3-0 UCD 01/07/22

Sligo Rovers news

Sligo’s Nando Pijnaker could earn his staring place back after sitting out in midweek through suspension, while Garry Buckley was back from a one-month absence, but the central defender may be rotated on Sunday.

Greg Bolger will be hoping to return to the side after missing out again on Thursday due to a slight knock.

University College Dublin news

UCD’s Sam Todd will be unavailable following a red card the central defender picked up last time out against Bohemians.

Striker Colm Whelan remains on the sidelines for some time after he ruptured his cruciate ligament back in May, with the top goalscorer having scored four goals during the 2022 campaign.

Prediction and Odds

UCD do not seem capable of putting up a fight against the drop, which leaves the hosts being able to keep the pressure on the top three with a comprehensive win.

This should be a comfortable victory for Sligo Rovers on Sunday, despite having played 120 minutes of intense football on Thursday.

Odds: 1 1.78 X 2.10 2 2.88