Ruaidhrí Higgins sweats over wounded Derry City duo in battling Sligo Rovers draw

Sligo Rovers 0 Derry City 0

Derry City's Daniel Kelly is booked for diving late in the game against Sligo Rovers

Derry City’s long wait to win at Sligo Rovers continued as they battled hard to secure a point at The Showgrounds.

Boss Ruaidhrí Higgins will perhaps be more concerned that midfield duo Patrick McEleney and Cameron Dummigan were substituted in the first-half, as City’s injury worries are already mounting up after just two games.

The Foylesiders, who were disappointing in the opening period, upped the tempo after the break and, with a bit more luck, could have nicked all three points.

The visitors missed a glorious chance on three minutes when Pat Hoban found Will Patching, but he blasted over from 10 yards.

Shortly after the interval, Patching released Michael Duffy down the left and he cut inside before seeing his low 20-yard drive take a deflection on its way just past Ed McGinty’s post.

Rovers’ Max Mata went close when Fabrice Hartmann’s delivery found the striker, but his header was straight at Brian Maher.

In the closing stages, Patching went close, but his long-range free-kick, which had McGinty scrambling, flashed just wide.

City were inches away from claiming the points on 88 minutes when Duffy’s cross found substitute Daniel Kelly at the back post, but the ex-Dundalk winger saw his close-range effort kept out by McGinty.

Higgins’ men had claims for a penalty in stoppage-time when Kelly went down under Will Fitzgerald’s challenge, but referee Kevin O’Sullivan rightly cautioned the City winger for diving.

Derry continued to pile forward with Patching’s 25-yard strike superbly tipped around the post by a diving McGinty to ensure the spoils would be shared.

SLIGO ROVERS: McGinty, Wilson (Wiggett, 77