Sligo Rovers earned a hard-earned point against resurgent Waterford but remain in real danger of relegation in the League of Ireland Premier Division. The 0-0 draw at the Showgrounds on Saturday kept the Bitten men rooted to the bottom of the table, with the boss admitting the result keeps their survival hopes alive but the task remains daunting.
Where Waterford left chances on the table
Waterford United, sitting eighth in the table, will feel they should have taken all three points from a game where they dominated possession but could not find a way past a resolute Sligo defence. The visitors created the clearer chances throughout the 90 minutes but were denied by a combination of inspired goalkeeping and last-ditch defending from the home side.
Sligo's winless run extends another week
Sligo Rovers have now gone five league games without a victory, with their last win coming back in May. The draw extends their winless run and leaves them rooted to the bottom of the Premier Division, 10th place with just 23 points from 28 games. The boss admitted after the match that the team is proving difficult to break down but conceded that the scoreline does little to ease the pressure on the playing staff.
What the data says about Sligo's season
League standing: 10th in Premier Division, 23 pts, 5W-8D-15L from 28 games, recent form DLDDL. Goals this season: 23 scored, 45 conceded (-22 goal difference). Title race: 31 points behind leaders Shamrock Rovers. Last result: Sligo Rovers 0-0 Waterford (2026-08-21). Recent form (last 5): 1W-2D-2L (DDWLL, most recent first). Next fixture: vs Bohemians (away, 2026-08-28) (3rd in the table). Top scorer this season: O. Elding with 11 goals in 35 appearances.
Player performances in the draw
Sligo Rovers' lineup included S Sargeant, S Quirk, O Denham, G McElroy, S Stewart, L Young, C McHugh, J Shorrock, A Nolan, L Pearce, C Kavanagh, with substitutes A Meekison, T George and K Woolery introduced during the match. Waterford United's lineup featured S McMullan, J Mahon, H Cann, K Long, B Couto, E McLaughlin, N Mawene, J Houston, C Noonan, P Amond and T Lonergan, with B McKenzie and D McMenamy among the substitutes. The referee for the fixture was N Doyle.
What happens next for both sides
Sligo Rovers face a crucial away trip to Bohemians on Wednesday, with the visitors sitting third in the table and looking to close the gap on the top six. Waterford will be looking to build on the point when they host Derry City in their next outing, hoping to move clear of the bottom half of the table. The coming weeks will be vital for both sides as the Premier Division campaign enters its business end.
