LOI preview: St Pat's eye title charge in Sligo

St Patrick's Athletic can move to within a point of league leaders Shamrock Rovers when they travel to face Sligo Rovers in The Showgrounds tonight, live on RTÉ2 and RTÉ Player.

With Shamrock Rovers not in action until Sunday’s deferred game with Cork City, the Saints have the opportunity to boost their title hopes against a side they have struggled against this season.

Sligo, now without leading goalscorer Max Mata following his departure to Shrewsbury yesterday, inflicted 2-1 and 1-0 defeats on Pat’s during the Tim Clancy era.

The latter, in Inchicore in 1 May, marked the end of Clancy’s time as manager. It was also the last time the Bit O’ Red won away from home in what has been a season of few bright sparks.

Pat’s have been recovering from their European exit, seeing off a determined Longford Town side in the Cup and having plenty of time to regroup for the remaining 11 games of the season having not played in the Premier Division since 7 July.

Eoin Doyle announced his retirement and former Liverpool trainee Ryan McLaughlin was added to their ranks.

Jon Daly has led Pat’s to eight wins from 10 matches since taking over after that May encounter and will hope to end their poor form against Sligo this year.

"Sligo Rovers are always a difficult team to play against, they have some very good players and they've beaten us in both matches so far this season so hopefully we can reverse that trend.

"From our end, the players have trained very well over the last couple of weeks and we had a good workout in a friendly game against Cliftonville last week, where we were able to get minutes into most of the players, we have good completion for places, so it's all systems go for tomorrow.

"It should be a good game, we know we'll have