Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers Preview

Irish Premier Division leaders Shamrock Rovers will want to register a resounding win on Saturday when they visit second from bottom Sligo Rovers, who already sit 29 points back from the top of the table.

Sligo Rovers have been on an improving trend as of late, losing just one of their last four, winning two of them. However, those wins account for 20% of their league total this season, and faced with veritable juggernauts in Shamrock Rovers, not many see them increasing that total at the weekend.

Shamrock on the other hand have won 14 of their 24 games, and sit 11 points ahead of second placed Derry City, albeit having played two games more.

As the game approaches, here is everything you need to know about both sides ahead of kick-off.

Key Statistics

• Sligo have only scored four in their last five, although they have also only conceded four in return.
• Shamrock stand well clear with the best attacking record in the league, their 42 goals 12 more than the next best (Derry and Drogheda with 28).
• They also boast the best defensive record in the league, conceding just 21, while Sligo Rovers have conceded 37 times, with only Cork (38) conceding more.
• The away side has not won this fixture in the last seven meetings - clearly there is a home bias when these two clash

Sligo Rovers Preview

Sligo Rovers Predicted Lineup (4-2-3-1): Sam Sargeant (GK); Reece Hutchinson, Conor Reynolds, Oliver Denham, Kyle McDonagh; Daire Patton, Jake Doyle-Hayes; William Fitzgerald, Jad Hakiki, Owen Elding; Wilson Waweru.

After a ponderous start to the campaign, there finally seem to be signs of life from Sligo Rovers. They sat bottom from gameweek five all the way up until gameweek 15, but thanks to a recent lift in form, they have propelled themselves above Cork City, who now occupy last place.

Three of their five wins this season have come since midway, which indicates certain improvement at the club, who are more accustomed to battling it out for mid-table positions come the end of the season.

They will have to cope without centre back Gareth McElroy and midfielder Ronan Manning, but whatever difference their absences make will be inconsequential. Faced with the best side in league when they are on a fragile upturn in form, it is hard to see how they can muster up the level to seriously challenge Shamrock here.

Shamrock Rovers Preview

Shamrock Rovers Predicted Lineup (5-3-2): Edward McGinty (GK); Joshua Honohan, Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes, Dan Cleary, Daniel Grant; Daniel Mandroiu, Matthew Healy, Dylan Watts; Graham Burke, Michael Noonan.

Similarly to Sligo, Shamrock had a surprisingly slow start to the season. They sat at the bottom of the table after picking up just one point from their opening three games, but since then have been on a remarkable upward surge.

This surge saw them take first place by mid-April, and they have only strengthened their grip on top spot since. Losing just once since April, and winning nine of their last eleven, they are showing a clean set of heels to the rest of the league.

They are further boosted coming into this match by boasting an almost clean bill of health, with only left wing back Adam Matthews missing thanks to a calf injury. Fully fit squad or not, Shamrock are expected to win this game, and they should do by a respectable margin, even with the lack of away results in recent clashes.

Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers Head to Head

Recent Meetings:

• 05/05/2025: Shamrock 2-0 Sligo.
• 03/03/2025: Sligo 2-1 Shamrock.
• 13/09/2024: Shamrock 4-0 Sligo.
• 28/06/2024: Sligo 2-0 Shamrock.
• 12/04/2024: Shamrock 3-0 Sligo.

Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers Betting Tip

With Sligo’s recent form paling in comparison to Shamrock’s, predicting this game is as straightforward as it gets.

That is why our experts have decided that the best tip for this fixture is to back Shamrock Rovers to win. Odds of 1.38 on Highbet mean that a £10 stake would return £13.28 should the bet come off.

Sligo Rovers vs Shamrock Rovers Prediction

Sligo Rovers 1-3 Shamrock Rovers

While Sligo will likely find the net, it will be no more than a consolation as Shamrock stroll to yet another victory.