League of Ireland Premier Division: Sligo Rovers 0-2 Derry City

Ronan Hale found the net for the sixth time this season for Derry

Rory Patterson and Ronan Hale scored as Derry City secured a fourth league win in a row by beating Sligo Rovers 2-0.

Patterson's deflected 16th-minute free-kick found the net and Hale fired into the bottom corner from the edge of the box after 76 minutes for the second.

Derry's first victory away to Sligo since 2009 sees them move above St Patrick's Athletic into fifth position in the Premier Division table.

The Candystripes host Waterford on 13 April and Bohemians on 16 April.

Hale and Ronan Curtis had chances as Derry enjoyed the better of the early stages, before Patterson gave them a deserved lead with his third goal of the season.

Curtis saw an effort tipped over by Michael Schlingermann in the second half but the home goalkeeper should have done better in preventing Hale's sixth of the season from finding the net.