Derry City ... 0 Sligo Rovers ... 0:SLIGO ROVERS caused a shock at the Brandywell last night by holding free-scoring Derry City to a scoreless draw. And Derry can have no complaints as Paul Cook's men battled to the end, giving the home side little time on the ball.

While Derry dominated the possession, the loss of Paddy McCourt after 31 minutes didn't help their cause. It was clear early on Sligo were happy to take a point but Derry's failure to penetrate cost them dearly. It was the home side who went close to breaking the deadlock. After four minutes a shot on the turn by Conor Sammon went narrowly wide while the same player was denied from point-blank range by Sligo goalkeeper Richard Brush.

A Ruaidhri Higgins header was blocked on the goal-line by Brian Cash while Owen Morrison crashed a late free-kick off the Sligo crossbar.

In the second half Derry had Sligo on the back foot but could not get in behind a resolute defence. Higgins had a fierce shot charged down inside the penalty area as the home side pushed forward and Derry substitute Kevin McHugh went close to winning it five minutes from the end.

DERRY CITY: Doherty; McGlynn, Hutton, Gray; McCourt (McGinn, 31 mins), Molloy (Martyn, 68 mins), Higgins, Morrison; McGlynn, Sammon (McHugh, 81 mins)

SLIGO ROVERS: Brush; Coleman, Almeida, Peers, Butler; Cash, Ventre, O'Grady, Moore (Murphy, 58 mins); Boco (McKenzie, 92 mins), Feeney (Judge, 63 mins).

Referee: D Hanney (Dublin).