Europa Conference League: Sligo look to seal the deal against Motherwell in Showgrounds showdown

Europa Conference League, second round, second leg: Sligo Rovers (1) v Motherwell (0), The Showgrounds, 7pm – Live Premier Sports 1

A sure way for Motherwell manager Graham Alexander to avoid humiliation, three days out from the start of the Scottish Premiership season, is staring him in the face. The answer sits beside Alexander in the dugout. One of Ballymun’s finest sporting son’s needs more than 26 minutes to work his magic.

That was all Ross Tierney was afforded in last week’s shock 1-0 defeat at Fir Park as Aidan Keena’s lob put Sligo on track to receive €850,000 in prize money. Such a windfall would change Rovers’ short-term future for the better, as victory sets up a real money spinner against Sparta Prague should the Czech giants see off Viking Stavanger in Norway.

NS Mura (1) v St Patrick’s Athletic (1), Fazanerija City Stadium, 7pm Irish time

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The arrogance of the Slovenian guests in Richmond Park was sensed by St Pat’s last week with Chris Forrester pointedly stating as much post match after the midfielder took it personally enough to punish them with a stunning volley. Only the trailing leg of Mura goalkeeper Matko Obradovic denied Pats a famous win and Forrester from scoring the best goal anyone has witnessed down by the Camac in decades.

Forewarned is forearmed so the hosts will presumably have seen the translated quotes and should have something special in store when Tim Clancy’s side take the field in Murska Sobota. Hard to see this St Pat’s squad, which has been decimated since capturing the FAI Cup last year, staying the course now that Mark Doyle has been suspended following last week’s red card.