Prediction: Sligo Rovers vs Motherwell

Verdict: Sligo Rovers to qualify 

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Unibet

Looking to finish off what would be a real upset on Thursday night, Sligo Rovers will welcome Motherwell to The Showgrounds for their second-leg showdown.

Sligo Rovers

Starting with the hosts, while Sligo might have opened last week’s first-leg meeting in Scotland as a landslide underdog with many, the Rovers put in what was a famous display. Managing to leave Fir Park with an iconic 1-0 victory, the Irish outfit find themselves sat in pole position to pick up quite the qualifying scalp. Although John Russell’s men might need a minor miracle if they’re to claim another top-three finish in the Premier Division this season, they are enjoying quite the purple patch. Managing to prove that their downbeat 2-0 loss against UC Dublin earlier in the month was just a minor blip, Thursday’s hosts have won four of their other five matchups across all formats. Likewise, on a run that stems back to May 20th, Sligo have lost just one of their previous nine appearances. Despite once again being tipped as an outside chance here, Russell’s squad have proven that they will be a tough test.

Team News

Bagging the winner at Fir Park and racking up six goals in his last seven appearances, 23-year-old Aidan Keena will spearhead Sligo’s charge here.

Russell looks set to name the same starting XI from last week’s first-leg meeting on Thursday evening.

Motherwell

As for the visitors, after putting in what was a largely dominant display on home soil last week, Motherwell would have been left furious to be chasing a deficit here. Eventually getting hit with that shock 1-0 loss at fir Park, the Scottish outfit will know that they have no time to feel sorry for themselves. Only squeezing in a couple of pre-season friendlies this summer as they landed back-to-back victories against Partick Thistle and little-known Austrian side Vorwarts Steyr, there could be some ring rust in Graham Alexander’s camp. Signing off the 2021/22 campaign with what was a nightmare 6-0 drumming at the hands of Celtic, the one-time Salford boss did see his side show some extended problems on the road last season. It should be noted, Motherwell managed to claim just a single Premiership away victory from their last 13 attempts.

Team News

Both coming off the bench last week, the duo of Ross Tierney and Joe Efford could be in line for a start here.

However, Motherwell are sweating over the fitness of both David Devine and Barry Maguire on Thursday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When the two sides faced off at Fir Park for their first-leg meeting last week, Sligo picked up a shock 1-0 win.
• The Rovers have won four of their previous five matchups across all formats.
• Motherwell signed off the 2021/22 Premiership campaign by winning just one of their final 13 away fixtures.
• The Steelmen have made just three appearances including friendlies since May 14th.
• Sligo have lost just one of their last nine matchups across all formats.

Conclusion

Although Sligo might once again open Thursday’s meeting tipped as an underdog with the bookmakers, they should be confident of finishing off the job here. Snatching that stunning 1-0 victory when they made the trip to Scotland last week, the Rovers are enjoying a real boost over the past month. Including that shock first-leg win on foreign soil seven days ago, Russell’s high-flying squad have won four of their last five matchups. Likewise, suffering just a single defeat from any of their previous nine contests across all formats, Sligo will be looking for a repeat performance here. With Motherwell only managing to muster three appearances since the middle of May, they are showing some ring rust.

Verdict: Sligo Rovers to qualify 

Best Odds: 3/5

Bookmaker: Unibet