St Patrick's Athletic saw their early season problems continue at the Showgrounds as they were beaten 2-1 by ten-man Sligo Rovers.
Chris Forrester had replied to Reece Hutchinson’s first goal for the Bit O’Red with a long-range stunner, but German winger Fabrice Hartmann sealed the points for Rovers with a fantastic finish of his own on 67 minutes.
Sligo played the majority of this tie with ten men after John Mahon was sent off 20 minutes in.
The result was the Saints’ second defeat in four days and sees them fall into the bottom three.
Seeking to recover from respective defeats on the road, both sides shuffled their packs ahead of this one.
Rovers boss John Russell gave a first start since his return from Scotland to local boy Mahon. While Hartmann and Stefan Radosavljevic were both handed first starts. Skipper Greg Bolger returned having missed the defeat to Drogheda.
Tim Clancy reacted to Pat’s five goal hammering to Dundalk with five changes. Tom Grivosti, Tom Lonergan, Ben McCormack and Thijs Timmermans all brought in, with Jay McGrath handed his first start.
Both camps came into this game with matching records from their opening three games and following an even opening, this game suddenly swung in the visitors’ favour.
📹 | Reece Hutchinson completes the one-two to give 10-man Sligo Rovers the lead over St. Pat's. #LOI | #SLIPAT pic.twitter.com/bAaH8p0bRZ
— League of Ireland (@LeagueofIreland) March 6, 2023
Mahon was, in referee Rob Hennessy’s opinion, the last man when he tangled with Lonergan at the edge of the area although it did seem at first glance that there was a covering Sligo defender. Mahon sent to the stands early on.
Despite the disadvantage, Sligo had the lead ten minutes later.
Radosavljevic and the lively Hartmann were both involved in the build-up before full-back Hutchinson pulled off a neat one-two with Will Fitzgerald down the Rovers left side before Hutchinson swept the ball past David Odumosu from seven yards.
Lonergan continued to cause hassle in the Sligo box before the break. He fizzed a vicious effort past the Sligo post 11 minutes from the break while the same player missed an open goal just before the break.
Clancy reacted to the deficit with the introduction of both Forrester and Jake Mulraney to his attack. The move paid off just past the hour when the former's bullet from distance gave Rovers’ net-minder Luke McNicholas no chance.
The crowd of over 2,750 were treated to another moment of brilliance in the 67th minute when Rovers took the lead again.
Hartmann made the most of Johan Brannefalk’s speedy set piece, picking up possession at the angle before bending the ball into the far corner of Odumosu’s net.
Sligo Rovers: Luke McNicholas; Johan Brannefalk, John Mahon, Nando Pijnaker, Reece Hutchinson; Greg Bolger (Eanna Clancy 57), Niall Morahan (Kailin Barlow 68); Will Fitzgerald, Fabrice Hartmann (Karl O’Sullivan 80); Max Mata; Stefan Radosavljevic.
St Patrick’s Athletic: David Odumosu; John-Alan McGrath, Tom Grivosti, Joe Redmond; Sam Curtis (Jake Mulraney HT), Anthony Breslin; Thijs Timmermans (Chris Forrester HT), Ben McCormack, Jamie Lennon; Thomas Lonergan (Mark Doyle 59); Eoin Doyle (Conor Carty 80).
Referee: Rob Hennessy.
