SSE Airtricity Premier Division
Sligo Rovers 0 Shamrock Rovers 0
SHAMROCK Rovers’ early season struggles continued as they were held by gritty Sligo Rovers in what was a thrilling but scoreless encounter at The Showgrounds.
This outcome means that Rovers remain second from the bottom, still winless after four games, while Sligo, who were full value for this draw, would have moved up to third in the standings had they won here.
Sligo were looking build on their 5-0 hammering of Dundalk at Oriel Park, a game in which on-loan striker Max Mata netted twice as did Ellis Chapman.
It was rare, too, that Sligo were ahead of Rovers in the standings, with the visitors, second from bottom in the table, looking for their first win of the campaign.
There was a blow for Rovers in the warm up when Gary O’Neill was ruled out – his capable replacement was Dylan Watts.
The hosts set the tone, winning two early corners, and smart defending from Roberto Lopes shut the door on a possible break by Max Mata.
Ex-Rovers man Simon Power swung in a free-kick from the left that Ollie Denham almost diverted past Leon Pohls.
Aaron Greene had Rovers’ first serious shot – an effort that Ed McGinty saved – and then Simon Power, twice, could have put Sligo in front. The second of these attempts was a cracking shot from a tight angle that came off the outside of the upright.
At the other end Daniel Cleary, celebrating his 28th birthday, guided a header goalwards from a Rovers corner and the defender was doing his job in the Rovers goalmouth when he made a fine tackle on Fabrice Hartmann.
Sligo, backed by another large home crowd, were forcing turnovers and turning up the heat but without asking Leon Pohls to produce any big saves.
Graham Burke was
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