Derry City's title hopes hit by Sligo Rovers

Derry City's League of Ireland title hopes suffered a damaging 2-0 defeat by Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.

Sligo opened the scoring on 19 minutes when Patrick McClean turned in from a corner.

A mistake by Brian Maher afforded Rovers striker Wilson Waweru the chance to double the hosts advantage just before half-time.

City failed to threaten a revival after the break and slip to third, nine points off Shamrock Rovers in top spot.

Sligo may be second from bottom in the standings but John Russell's side went into tonight's game unbeaten in their last three matches.

They held league leaders Shamrock Rovers to a 2-2 draw last time out and ignited another scalp when former Glentoran defender McClean side-footed into the net after 19 minutes.

With four straight victories before tonight's trip, Derry had made ground at the top of the table and almost equalised but Hayden Cann's header was cleared off the line.

The Candystripes had won each of their two previous meetings this season but found themselves two goals behind on the stroke of half-time.

Maher spilled Ryan O'Kane's cross and Waweru pounced to hammer the ball home.

After the interval, Liam Boyce couldn't get on the end of a teasing Adam O'Reilly cross.

Tiernan Lynch's men struggled to create anything by way of clear cut chances thereafter.

The Foylesiders now sit third one point behind Bohemians in second with Sligo still in the relegation play-off place.