Sligo Rovers 4 Derry City 1
City boss Declan Devine spoke during the week about the need for his players to respond to last week’s disappointing home defeat to U.C.D. However he witnessed his side outplayed and well beaten by a classy Sligo Rovers side who were gifted a number of goals by a generous visiting defence.
City have now failed to pick up a single point in the month of September, falling to five defeats in the period. City lined up with a 4-5-1 formation in an attempt to stymie the attacking threat of the home side, but right from kickoff they were under pressure.
Millinen was central to the opening goal, picking the ball up on the left and ghosting past a number of defenders. Intruth he should have squared the ball to Quigley, but Doherty got down well to push the ball away for a corner. City failed to deal with the set piece and the ball landed in the six yard box where it was forced home by a combination of Peers and Quigley, with McBride in attendance.
City could have been two down shortly after when Quigley waltzed past a number of players and fed Cretaro. His shot was parried by Doherty, and Ndo was adjudged to be offside as he stabbed it home. However City soon gifted Sligo a second when Greacen cleared straight to Cretaro, who easily curled it past Doherty to make it two nil.
The home side were completely dominant as City struggle to cope with most elements of the Sligo game. Cretaro bagged his second and Sligo third just before the hour mark when he received the ball from Lynch, swivelled and fired home.
City gave themselves a flicker of hope when McDaid smarltly finished a nice through ball from Higgins, but it was merely a temporary respite as Sligo again piled on the agony. This time Lynch, who had been impressive all night was to be the scorer. Millien and Buchanan both had chances but Lynch latched onto a loose throw from Madden, drove forward and fired home.
After that the game wound towards a close, with Sligo now eight points clear and cruising towards the title. Another hugely disappointing performance from Derry and with Dundalk and Shelbourne in the next week, the search for answers goes on for the management team.
