Stephen O’Donnell says Dundalk must be wary of the “threats all over the park” that Sligo Rovers have in their armoury.
The Lilywhites hope to make it third time lucky when they chase their first win of the season against The Bit O’Red at Oriel Park on Monday evening.
Dundalk should be fresh for the fixture having had their trip to Dalymount Park postponed on Friday, a night when Sligo’s unbeaten start to the campaign ended, going down 1-0 to Shelbourne at The Showgrounds.
Having had a strong home record throughout O’Donnell’s reign, Dundalk are still smarting from their 2-0 loss to Galway United, but they now come up against a side completely out of form on the road.
John Russell’s men are without an away victory since 1 May and are on an eight-game winless run in the league dating back to September. However, O’Donnell insists his players will have to be “on their mettle” to collect all three points.
O’Donnell on Sligo Rovers…
“They had two tough games – away to Bohs, they conceded in the last minute to prevent them from winning, and then a draw at home to Derry. I thought they had a lot of the play in the Shelbourne game, went behind to a corner kick and then Shelbourne defended well. Sligo had most of the possession in the second half and couldn’t break them down.
“They have a lot of threats all over the park, a lot of good footballers. We’re going to have to be on our mettle, definitely, in regard to the threats they carry. Hopefully, we can get our game out and hurt them.”
1 March 2024; Snow lies on the pitch before an afternoon pitch inspection before the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division match between Bohemians and Dundalk at Dalymount Park in Dublin. Photo by Tyler Miller/Sportsfile
On Friday’s postponement being a help or a hindrance…
“You build all week for the game, so all the players have got themselves mentally ready for a match and then it’s a bit of a damp squib when it’s postponed. Our preparation was good, and we just followed that on in the last couple of days. We’re now looking forward to the game on Monday night.”
On the snow in Dublin on Friday…
“I don’t live far from Dalymount so when I looked out at my back garden and it was covered in snow in the morning, my first thought was it could be in a bit of jeopardy, and it stayed snowing quite heavily for the next few hours.
“I thought as it went on and dried up a bit, there might be more of a chance of it being played, but then once I saw the photos from Dalymount, it would have been hard to clear all that.”
On the benefit of having this Monday fixture…
“Basically, it’s just a two-day add-on. We were in training Saturday and Sunday, and then ready to go for Monday. It would be more of a disappointment if we had a full week to go through again after preparing, but it’s only an extra two days.”
On John Mountney playing the full 90 minutes for the U20s on Saturday…
“In the last two weeks, he’s had an hour and a 90 with the U20s. He has come through that unscathed, touch wood. That’s great. With John, it’s just about getting him over the hump of the first few weeks back and then he’ll be in a good place.
“Dara Keane is the same. When lads have been out for such a lengthy period of time, the first few weeks when they come back are always the trickiest.
“Other little nicks and pulls can occur, so it’s just getting them over that few weeks after of continuous training and minutes under their belt in bounce or U20 games. Once they’re over that hump, it eases itself out.”
