General
- Thursday August 23rd, 2012 @ 14:53
Saints Face League Leaders
The Saints host Sligo Rovers in Friday's much anticipated clash aiming to close the gap on the league leaders.
Pats returned to winning ways last Monday night as Seán O'Connor's second half goal was enough to give Liam Buckley's side a 1-0 win over Dundalk.
However the Bit O'Red are in great form having only suffered one defeat in the league to date which came all the way back in May.
For Saints' manager Liam Buckley, the chance for his side to test themselves against the league's leading side is something to be relished:
"Sligo have been the league's best side this year to date," he told stpatsfc.com.
"We found it tough up at the Showgrounds earlier in the year, but that said, we easily could have won the game too.
"Sligo are going really well at the minute, but it's a game we're looking forward to and looking to get a result from."
Buckley remains without the services of Dean Kelly, Stephen O'Flynn and Mark Rossiter through injury, though he is boosted by the return of Kenny Browne and Darren Meenan following their respective suspensions.
Former Sligo midfielder John Russell requires a late fitness test on an ankle injury to determine his availability for the clash.
For Pats' skipper Conor Kenna, tomorrow's game will be his 99th appearance for the club.
Having scored the only goal of the game in the corresponding fixture between the two sides in Richmond Park last October Kenna knows what it takes to beat the Bit O'Red, though he admitted to stpatsfc.com that victory is a necessity.
"It's a game all the lads are really up for, a few lads came into the team against Dundalk and that again shows the competition for places here.
"There's no denying it will be a real challenge tomorrow as Sligo's lead at the top of the table really shows how far they are ahead of everyone else.
"It will be tough, but we've got to go out there to try and win if we want to close that gap to them."
