Dundalk end turbulent week with Sligo defeat

Dundalk ended what was a turbulent week for the club with defeat as goals from Sligo Rovers' Wilson Waweru and Ellis Chapman replied to Robbie Benson's first half penalty as the Bit O'Red moved level with third-placed Shamrock Rovers.

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Having staved away concerns surrounding their immediate future as a football club, the Lilywhites were offered hope of a brighter future earlier this week when they were taken over by local John Temple.

The news however couldn't inspire their players towards what would have been a win which would have pulled them off the foot of the Premier Division however as Sligo recovered from a patchy opening half to record their seventh league win at home on the spin.

The Louthmen's cause wasn't helped by a Hayden Cann red card 15 minutes from time.

Rovers boss John Russell welcomed club captain Niall Morahan back to the starting eleven after the Leitrim man had missed last week's defeat to Shamrock Rovers through suspension.

Morahan was the only change in personnel from the Tallaght Stadium defeat.

The visitors for their part also made the one switch, Jad Hakiki replacing Scott McGill who had started the recent loss to Waterford.

Despite their recent off-the-field woes, it was Dundalk who enjoyed the better of the first half.

Winger Daryl Horgan bent an effort over the Sligo crossbar from inside the area six minutes in, while Will Fitzgerald's shot flashed past the far post at the opposite end three minutes later.

The visitors had the lead on 24 minutes in controversial circumstances when referee Marc Lynch ruled that the ball had hit Connor Malley's arm.

It was a decision which enraged the home bench who argued both that the ball had hit Malley's shoulder and that the former Dundalk man