Preview: Sligo and Pat's face day of Europa Conference League reckoning

Two Irish sides bid to make it to the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League on Thursday evening, with Sligo Rovers aiming for a famous win over Motherwell, while St Patrick's Athletic are also in a good position as they take on Slovenian side NS Mura.

Few expected the Bit O’Red to go to Scotland and upset the Premiership side last week. However, an organised display, mixed with a good passing game and the prolific Aidan Keena, defied all the predictions before the game.

Sligo had a poor week in the run-up to the Fir Park game. Scraping over the line against Bala Town on penalties, and a home to loss to UCD three days later, did little to raise spirits.

But the best of John Russell’s side emerged. Indeed, it could have even better had Max Mata got a shot away when through on goal, or a clear handball from a Mata header in the box was given as a penalty.

Mayo goalkeeper Luke McNicholas had the unenviable task of filling Ed McGinty’s boots after the former transferred to Oxford United.

McNicholas, part of the current Republic of Ireland Under-21 squad, showed why there are forecasts that he will follow McGinty to the UK sooner rather than later with an assured display that led to a clean sheet.

The morning after the first leg, one of the headlines in the Scottish back pages read: 'Steelmen slump to Europa loss against Irish minnows'.

It showed the shock of the outcome of the 90 minutes, as the home side were booed off by 7,000 fans, and also the perception that a Premier Division side should be dispatched with ease.

Speaking at a press conference on Tuesday, 37-year-old Russell said such tags are to be expected, and do not represent the current reality of Irish club football on the pitch.

"Look, you’re always going