Joey O’Brien: “We’re ready for a big battle in Sligo” | OneFootball

Shelbourne FC are back on the road this Saturday night as they travel to face Sligo Rovers in their next SSE Airtricity League of Ireland Premier Division fixture. Kick off at The Showgrounds is at 7:45pm.

The Reds come into the game following Monday night’s Dublin Derby, where they played out a 0-0 draw with Bohemians in Tolka Park, taking a point from a tight and physical encounter.

Long-term absentees Mipo Odubeko, Odhran Casey, and Paddy Barrett remain sidelined, while Sam Bone is also a concern. Milan Mbeng and Will Jarvis are carrying knocks.

Speaking to ShelsTV after training, Joey O’Brien provided an update on the squad:

“We still have a few long-term absentees, but it’s great to have Ellis Chapman back and Sean Moore back involved, that’s a big boost for us with both of them training again. Aside from that, it’s as we were.”

It has been a demanding run of fixtures for the Reds, with games coming thick and fast across the past number of weeks with double headers Friday-Monday. O’Brien acknowledged the physical toll but stressed the importance of maintaining standards.

“Coming off the back of four games in ten days, Pats, Rovers, away to Derry and then Bohs at home, it was a really tough and demanding run.

I was really proud of the performance against Bohs. You could see the effects of the ten days in the lads, but they went after it, stayed in the fight, got the clean sheet and probably had the best chance of the game to win it.

We’re in a good place now, we’ve had a solid week on the training pitch and we’re looking forward to going to Sligo.”

The Reds are likely to see plenty of the ball on Saturday night, and O’Brien knows converting possession into clear-cut chances will be key.

“Sligo is a really tough place to go, even from my own playing days.

I was looking at them last week and they were very unfortunate not to get something from the game, the chances they had, and they’ll feel hard done by with the penalty Dundalk got.

So it’s going to be a tough game on our travels again. We know what’s facing us, but it’s one we want to go and attack and try to win.”

Sligo Rovers come into the game looking to turn around their own run of form, they are second bottom in the Premier Division and have won just once this season, O’Brien though is expecting a motivated and competitive display from the Bit O’Red

The Reds have produced strong performances in big games so far this season, particularly in Dublin derbies, a clean sheet against the league leaders on Monday, coming from 2-0 down against St Pats, and scoring twice early on against Rovers and O’Brien is looking for that same level of intensity on the road.

“Overall, we probably left a few points behind, but there’s no point looking back now.

Looking forward is the focus going into Sligo. It’s a massive game and it’ll be a hard battle, one the squad is really looking forward to.

We’ve got a really strong group and I’m fortunate that I can make changes and rotate to keep lads fit and fresh. The players have performed well over the last ten days, but now it’s about going on the road, putting in a big performance and getting the win, because what’s gone before is in the past.”