Simon Dalton presents his prediction for the League of Ireland Premier Division match.
Both clubs have underperformed compared to last season, with Sligo Rovers enduring a particularly disappointing campaign. The team currently sits at the bottom of the standings and must improve to avoid relegation.
Sligo Rovers
Sligo Rovers have picked up just 12 points and have remained anchored to the bottom of the standings for seven consecutive rounds. Despite this poor run, 40-year-old Irish coach John Russell remains in charge. During that stretch, Sligo Rovers have managed only one win and two draws. The gap to ninth-placed Cork City is only a single goal, but even reaching that position would mean a play-off to preserve their top-flight status. Safety — represented by eighth place — is still 10 points away.
St Patrick's Athletic
St Patrick's Athletic currently occupy fifth place, just three points behind second-placed Drogheda United. They have already played a rescheduled fixture from earlier in the season, though their opponent had also caught up on matches. However, St Patrick's Athletic have lacked consistency in recent weeks, managing only one win in their last five league appearances — a narrow 3:2 victory over fellow strugglers Cork City. That result could have gone either way, with St Patrick's Athletic trailing 1:2 until the 88th minute before staging a late comeback. Matches against top-half rivals have ended in defeat.
Sligo Rovers vs St Patrick's Athletic Prediction
Given their recent away form, St Patrick's Athletic are far from a sure bet here and are likely to encounter resistance. While Sligo Rovers have regressed since last season, they are still capable of putting up a fight. A close contest is expected, with the home side likely to avoid a heavy defeat — and possibly even take something from the game.
