10-man Sligo too good for St Pat's

St Patrick's Athletic saw their early season problems continue at the Showgrounds as they were beaten 2-1 by ten-man Sligo Rovers.

Chris Forrester had replied to Reece Hutchinson’s first goal for the Bit O’Red with a long-range stunner, but German winger Fabrice Hartmann sealed the points for Rovers with a fantastic finish of his own on 67 minutes.

Sligo played the majority of this tie with ten men after John Mahon was sent off 20 minutes in.

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The result was the Saints’ second defeat in four days and sees them fall into the bottom three.

Seeking to recover from respective defeats on the road, both sides shuffled their packs ahead of this one.

Rovers boss John Russell gave a first start since his return from Scotland to local boy Mahon. While Hartmann and Stefan Radosavljevic were both handed first starts. Skipper Greg Bolger returned having missed the defeat to Drogheda.

Tim Clancy reacted to Pat’s five goal hammering to Dundalk with five changes. Tom Grivosti, Tom Lonergan, Ben McCormack and Thijs Timmermans all brought in, with Jay McGrath handed his first start.

Both camps came into this game with matching records from their opening three games and following an even opening, this game suddenly swung in the visitors’ favour.