SLIGO SO SLICK AS THE SAINTS ARE SILENCED

JOHN RUSSELL was growing tired of the pats on the back for moral victories but feels his Sligo Rovers jigsaw is finally taking shape

- PAUL O'HEHIR

St Patrick's Athletic 0
Sligo Rovers 1

The Bit O' Red were unlucky to lose 2-1 against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Friday but on a swift return to Dublin they deservedly took all three points against a St Pat's side who must think it's Groundhog Day.

Max Mata's second-half header consigned the Saints to a third defeat on the spin having righted a poor start to the season by going on a four-game winning run.

Eoin Doyle's straight red (inset) for diving in on Will Fitzgerald, as he ran the clock down at the death from a short corner, compounded the toothless hosts' frustration.

And just to make matters worse, Saints skipper Joe Redmond is facing a prolonged spell on the sideline following hamstring surgery.