Full-time. Sligo Rovers 0-2 St. Patrick's Athletic.

Missed penalty! David Cawley steps up to the spot after a Pats handball in the box, and flashes the ball way wide!

Adam Murphy voted the SSE Airtricity Player of the Match.

Forrester cracks the bar from a free-kick!

Hartman draws a good save from Lyness with a curling effort on the edge of the box.

Jay McGrath booked.

Barlow comes off Karl O\'Sullivan. Thomas Lonergan replaces Carty.

Brannefalk carded after a verbal offence.

Nolan catches the ball 25 yards out and produces a powerful effort with left foot that is just lacking accuracy, the shot always arcing wide of the left post.

Mulraney looks to have picked up a knock and is replaced by Alex Nolan.

Fabrice Hartman comes on for Lukas Browning.

Carty goes close as he picks up the ball on the edge of the box and fires across goal, beating McNicholas and veering just inches right of the Sligo post.

Greg Bolger is booked after a late tackle on Carty.

It's a shocking miss from Carty! Mulraney is imperious as he cuts in on his left foot outside of the box and produces a curling effort that rattles McNicholas' left post. Carty pounces on the rebound and has a wide open goal, yet can only smash the ball into the stands of The Showgrounds.

Pats get the second half underway.

Half-time: Sligo Rovers 0-2 St. Patrick's Athletic.

Brannefalk whips in a free-kick to the Pats' box and finds Pedro Matrelo in the air, the Portuguese striker unable to significantly challenge Dean Lyness in goal.

Niall Morahan also booked after a late tackle on Forrester.

Conor Carty carded after an overly physical challenge on Kailin Barlow.

Goal! Curtis scores on the half volley from the centre of the box, after Lukas Browning fails to clear an in-swinging free kick from Mulraney.

Jake Mulraney misses a sitter! Mcclelland sends Doyle down the left wing who does well to outmuscle Johan Brannefalk and find Mulraney at the back post in acres of space. Mulraney who's positioned less than six yards from goal scuffs his shot and sends it over the bar.

A sumptuous piece of skill from Jason Mcclelland sees the midfielder get a shot off from outside and forces a sprawling save from McNicholas.

Curtis receives the ball on the overlap and drills the ball into the Sligo box, Buckley sending the ball out of play with an outstretched leg.

It's been all Pats since the opener, Conor Carty and Doyle getting joy running behind what looks to be a starkly exposed Sligo back line.

Goal! Forrester sends Luke McNicholas the wrong way and converts from 12 yards out.

Penalty! A lightning quick break from Pats sees Jake Mulraney power down the pitch and lay the ball off to Mark Doyle who is brought down by Gary Buckley in the box.

Chris Forrester goes for an outlandish shot from about 40 yards out but sees his effort balloon way over and way wide of the crossbar.

Sligo get the action underway!

The Saints are boosted with the return of captain Joe Redmond in the starting XI following a lengthy period of time on the side line. Portuguese striker Pedro Martelo slips into the spot vacated by Max Mata as he makes his first start for The Bit O'Red this year.

“Our league form has been really good and we'll be aiming to continue our positive performances over the coming weeks, starting at The Showgrounds. “Sligo Rovers are always a difficult team to play against, they have some very good players and they've beaten us in both matches so far this season so hopefully we can reverse that trend.”

It\'s been nearly a month since Pats played their last league fixture on 7 July. Following that 1-1 draw with Cork in Richmond Park, The Saints crashed out of Europe at the hands of F91 Dudelange, progressed through the FAI Cup against Longford as well as having squared off in a friendly against Cliftonville. Speaking to club media, Jon Daly say his side are relishing their return to league action: \"We\'re looking forward to the match and to getting back to domestic action tomorrow night after a break last weekend,” Daly said.

“Tomorrow night we welcome an in-form St Pats side to the Showgrounds. Our previous games against them have been tight encounters so we’re expecting another difficult game. “It’s important we build on our last two home performances where we took maximum points. We are eager to try and build some momentum and with players starting to return to full fitness this will only enhance our chances.”

The recent departure of talisman Max Mata to Shrewsbury Town is a further blow to a Sligo side that have struggled for goals this season, the Kiwi leaving as the league's joint top scorer. Manager John Russel receives temporary respite with Fabrice Hartman returning to the Bit O'Red on loan from RB Leipzig, the German forward expected to add a more cutting edge element to Sligo's attack: “I was delighted to bring Fabrice back to the club and he has given everyone a real lift," said Russel while speaking to club media. "He is a player of immense quality and is exactly the type of player we need in the final third."

Evening all and welcome to tonight's match coverage of Sligo Rovers vs St. Patrick's Athletic. A win in the Showgrounds this evening reduces Shamrock Rovers' league lead down to a singular digit as The Saints remain in hot pursuit of the league title. Sligo have endured a underwhelming season so far this year but have got the better of Pats on both of the occasion's they've met this season, boasting 2-1 and 1-0 wins respectively.