Preview: Drogheda United vs. Sligo Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

The Claret and Blue Army, on the other hand, head into the weekend on a run of four straight games without defeat across all competitions and will look to keep the juggernaut rolling.

Match preview

Drogheda United failed to find their feet last Friday as they could only come from behind to salvage a 1-1 draw against Derry City at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium.

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Mathew Smith put the hosts ahead with an eighth-minute strike before former Shamrock Rovers forward Dean Williams restored parity six minutes into the second period.

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Prior to that, Kevin Doherty's men saw their two-game winning streak come to an end when they were held to a 1-1 draw by Bohemian on May 27.

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Drogheda United have picked up five wins, six draws and lost eight of their 19 games so far to collect 21 points and sit eighth in the Premier Division standings.

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The Claret and Blue Army now return to home turf where they are on a two-game winning streak and are unbeaten in five of their last six since last March.

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Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, returned to winning ways last time out when they comfortably saw off Finn Harps 3-0 at the Showgrounds Stadium.

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Irish forward Aidan Keena turned in a performance of the highest quality, scoring either side of Karl O'Sullvan's eighth-minute strike to hand the hosts all three points.

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The Bit O'Reds are now unbeaten in each of their last four outings across all competitions, picking up two wins and two draws since May's 2-1 defeat away to Bohemian.

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However, they have failed to win any of their last five outings away from home — picking up two draws and losing three — stretching back to a 1-0 victory at Finn Harps on April 18.

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With 28 points from 20 games, Sligo Rovers are currently fifth in the league standings, six points off Derry City in the Conference League qualification spot.

Drogheda United League of Ireland Premier form:

Sligo Rovers League of Ireland Premier form:

Sligo Rovers form (all competitions):

Team News

With his equaliser against Derry City, Dean Williams has scored in his last two outings and we expect the 22-year-old to spearhead the Drogheda United attack once again.

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At the centre of the park, we should see a midfield trio of Dayle Rooney, 30-year-old Ryan Brennan and Shamrock Rovers loanee Darragh Nugent.

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Dylan Grimes is a doubt for this weekend's encounter after the 24-year-old came off injured with a 41st-minute injury, meaning Adam Foley will push for his ninth appearance of the season.

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With nine goals under his belt already, Aidan Keena is currently second in the Premier Division top scorers chart and the 23-year-old should spearhead the attack once again.

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He should be joined in the final third by 23-year-old William Fitzgerald and Irish forward O'Sullvan, who has scored twice in his last two outings.

Drogheda United possible starting lineup:

McCabe; Poynton, Quinn, Weir, Massey; Nugent, Brennan, Rooney; Grimes, Clarke, Williams

Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:

McGinty; Kirk, Blaney, Buckley, Banks; Morahan, Cawley, Mata; Fitzgerald, Keena, O'Sullvan

We say: Drogheda United 1-1 Sligo Rovers

While Sligo Rovers will be looking to extend their dominance over the hosts, they have struggled to get going on the road in recent weeks. Sligo Rovers, meanwhile, are unbeaten in four straight games and we predict they will do just enough to come away with a share of the spoils.

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