The Candystripes have been wasteful lately in their League of Ireland fixtures but have got their final game in hand, against Sligo Rovers, as a lifeline. Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side have not won a league game since August 23 against Waterford and has seen their rivals catch up with them,

Derry City’s hopes of challenging for the 2024 league title appear to be fading away following the club’s fourth successive 1-1 result, this time against a luckless Sligo Rovers who played out the later stages with 10 men.

Unlike almost every other team that come to the Brandywell, Sligo Rovers employed two strikers in Ellis Chapman and Luke Pearce up top. That was in contrast to the home side, who you sense would break out in a rash if they had anyone alongside Pat Hoban in attack.