Baraclough urges Bit O’Red to bounce back

Still holding maximum points in the league, but smarting from defeat by Drogheda United in the Setanta Cup, champions Sligo Rovers travel to Richmond Park to take on third-placed St Patrick’s Athletic in the big game of the night in the Airtricity Premier Division (kick-off 7:05pm, live on RTE 2).

If the Bit O’Red are to claim a ninth successive league win, manager Ian Baraclough knows his side will have to quickly get rid of the unaccustomed taste of defeat. “We were always going to have that knock back and it came on Tuesday,” he reflects. “But we put that tie to one side now because it is back to the league in Richmond Park aiming for a positive result and to keep our tremendous league form so far this season going.”

For the visitors, Joseph Ndo is in contention, having returned to training, but Danny North (knee), Seamus Conneely (knee) and Ciarán Kelly (fractured sternum) miss out.