Sligo Rovers 2 – 0 Motherwell

Motherwell’s Europa Conference League aspirations finished as another defeat by Sligo Rovers saw them exit the next qualifying round 3- on aggregate.

Graham Alexander’s guys trailed 1- from the 1st leg at Fir Park and the return match at The Showgrounds had just entered its fourth minute when defender Shane Blaney curled in a delightful cost-free-kick from 25 yards to double that lead.

The Lanarkshire side’s response was weak and a overall performance that lacked conviction and top quality was made worse when substitute Max Mata included a second in added time for a 2- get which drew further ire and anger from the 300 Effectively supporters.

The battling house side deserved their gain and will satisfy Viking in the up coming spherical.

By distinction, it was a depressing evening for the Steelmen who will start out their cinch Premiership marketing campaign away to St Mirren on Sunday below a European cloud and manager Alexander will arrive beneath the highlight.

The strain was on the Steelmen going into the recreation and, even though John Russell’s aspect had been unchanged, the guests designed 1 transform with Ross Tierney in for Connor Shields.

The match was however settling down when the League of Eire Leading Division outfit took the lead, just after Effectively defender Bevis Mugabi clumsily conceded a no cost-kick for a obstacle on former Falkirk striker Aiden Keena, who scored the only target at Fir Park.

Blaney stepped up and, to the delight of the Rovers enthusiasts, whipped in a shot which sailed over Motherwell keeper Liam Kelly and into the leading corner.

In the 13th moment Very well defender Ricki Lamie had the ball in the internet following a Blair Spittal totally free-kick into the Sligo box but Swedish referee Bojan Pandzic dominated an infringement for offside.

Motherwell lacked creativity and cohesion and could not make any genuine headway.

And five minutes from the crack, immediately after Niall Morahan set a cross into the Motherwell box, Keena pounced on the loose ball but saw a shut-range generate from 6 yards saved by Kelly.

Shields replaced Spittal for the start out of the second half but it designed no discernible variation.

Without a doubt, in the 58th minute it took a conserving deal with from Motherwell’s Barry Maguire to avert David Cawley from scoring a breakaway 2nd, next a strong run by Will Fitzgerald.

Alexander introduced on Joseph Efford, Sean Goss and Sondre Solholm Johansen on for Maguire, Tierney and Mugabi but to no avail.

In the 75th minute, Efford fired a volley around from eight yards with an effort which was in preserving with a dismal night time for Perfectly in advance of Lamie headed into the ground and in excess of the bar.

The evening was to get worse for the people.

As the sport entered included time, Mata, on for Morahan in the 69th moment, ran on to a Keena pass to slip the ball low earlier Kelly to seal a well-known win as Sligo arrived at the third qualifying spherical of European qualification for the to start with time.

The new Scottish Premiership period with Sky Sports activities

• Up to 48 stay matches from the Scottish Premiership moreover the play-off finals.
• Reside coverage offered by Eilidh Barbour with evaluation from Kris Boyd and Andy Walker, and much more.
• Spherical the clock coverage on Sky Sports activities News, on skysports.com and across our Sky Athletics social channels.
• Free of charge-to-observe highlights of just about every Scottish Premiership video game on our internet site.
• Sky Sports is your top destination for domestic soccer with reside protection of the Premier League, EFL, Scottish Premiership and the Women’s Super League.
• Come across out far more about Sky Sporting activities