Graham Gartland: Mixing up game will give Sligo 'great chance' of following up first leg win over Motherwell

Before Sligo Rovers kicked off their Europa Conference League second qualifying round first leg last Thursday, ex-St Patrick's Athletic and Shelbourne midfielder Conan Byrne had told the RTÉ Soccer Podcast that opponents Motherwell were "beatable".

And so it proved as Sligo pulled off one of their most memorable victories as they stunned the Scottish Premiership side.

That 1-0 result at Fir Park sets them up nicely for the return leg against a Motherwell outfit who were favourites coming into the tie.

But the challenge now will be whether John Russell's team can follow up that achievement with the necessary result to progress to the next stage.

Speaking on this week's RTÉ Soccer Podcast, ex-Drogheda United, St Johnstone and Shamrock Rovers defender Graham Gartland suggested that the Bit o' Red's best bet for Thursday would be to mix up their game to avoid the troubles they faced against Wales' Bala Town in the previous round's second leg.

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"Bala Town came with a game-plan to make the game chaotic, very direct and scrappy and it probably caught Sligo out a bit because they're probably not used to playing that type of game," he said.

"Now Motherwell might look at that and might bring that (approach) so Sligo need to be willing to win headers, get to second balls and get people around the ball."

Sligo gave a great account of themselves in the first leg and their cause has been aided by the form of Aidan Keena, who has two European goals to his name to add to 11 league goals.

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