Shelbourne's unbeaten league run is extended as Sligo fume over a controversial late red card
John Russell's side came into this game unbeaten in their last five league games, and knew that three points against Shels would see them move level with Galway United in eighth.
Ciaron Harkin, the latest arrival at the Showgrounds, was named on the bench, with Russell having to make a change after the warm-up when left-back Sean Stewart picked up a knock.
Joey O'Brien's side, fresh from their trip to Kazakhstan where they were beaten by Qarabag, were in need of a win to keep in touch with the top four.
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Milan Mbeng made his first start for the 2024 Premier Division champions having signed from Cork City, as Shels looked to extend their unbeaten run in the league to four games.
A win and two draws in their last three league games had the Dubliners in fifth place prior to the trip to Sligo.
In an uneventful first half, the home side were wondering how they had not gone ahead, when Cian Kavanagh's miss on 10 minutes was really the talking point.
Will Fitzgerald's free-kick was knocked on and Kavanagh just needed a touch to direct the effort past Speel, but somehow the former Derry and St Patrick's Athletic man couldn't get a touch.
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Then two minutes into the second-half, the visitors went ahead and in style.
Coote received the ball in the middle of the pitch, and glided past a couple of Sligo players before firing into the top corner with Sam Sargeant beaten in the Sligo goal.
Paddy McClean came close to levelling the score, but the Derry native couldn't keep his header down from Owen Elding's inviting cross into the box.
John Russell switched things up, going three at the back as he desperately tried to rescue something from this tie.
But it was game over on 77 minutes when Boyd added a second for the Dubliners after Sligo failed to clear the ball from their box, with John Martin picking out the free and unmarked Boyd, who was on hand to fire in.
Sligo's day got worse with six minutes to go when goalkeeper Sargeant was given a straight red by Rob Harvey for handling the ball outside the box, although replays suggest that the contact may have been on the line.
That result sees Shels move to within three points of Drogheda United in fourth place in the table, while Sligo remain ninth, three points off Galway United in eighth.
Sligo Rovers: Sargeant, Reynolds (Waweru, 67), McClean, Denham, McDonagh (Mahon, 67), McManus, Quirk, Hakiki (Harkin, 46), Elding, Kavanagh, Fitzgerald.
Shelbourne: Speel, Mbeng (Gannon, 68), Temple, Barrett, Ledwidge, McInroy, Lunney, Norris (Moore, 82), Coote (Martin, 68), Wood (Chapman, 82), Odubeko (Boyd, 59).
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