Hakiki’s 19th minute goal was the difference, with Sligo soaking up severe pressure during the second-half to come away with all three points.

With that win over Galway on Monday night, John Russell’s men moved out of the bottom two for the first time since gameweek 19.

The Bit O’Red have been one of the league’s form teams since the mid-season break, but were beaten by Stephen Kenny’s men in all three previous meetings this season.

The Saints knew a win was vital against Sligo to keep their European hopes alive through the league route, with the Saints also in with a chance of qualification through the FAI Cup.

You have to go back to June 23 to find the last time the Inchicore side lost a league game, with Kenny’s men really hitting form in recent weeks.

In a fairly even first-half, the Saints shaded possession but neither side were really able to test the opposition goalkeeper.

With 19 minutes gone, Sligo went ahead.

A quickly-taken throw was sent into the box for Hakiki, whose initial effort was pushed away by Anang.

But Hakiki was well positioned to fire in the follow-up with his sixth goal of the season.

Stephen Kenny’s side had chances, with Simon Power’s free-kick deflected wide, and while Kian Leavy was causing Sligo problems, the Saints really didn’t trouble Sargeant in the Sligo goals.

Mason Melia almost made it 1-1 in the second-half after a defensive mistake from Gareth McElroy, but the youngster couldn’t gather his feet in time to beat Sargeant.

Pat’s had chances to level the game, and put the Bit O’Red under severe pressure for the entire second-half, but heroic defending saw Sligo hold out for a huge three points while the Dubliners remain in fifth place, one point behind Drogheda United.

Sligo Rovers: S Sargeant, E Agbaje (C Reynolds, 77), P McClean, G McElroy, S Stewart (S Stewart, 71), C Harkin (D Patton, 82), J McManus (M Wolfe, 77), J Hakiki, O Elding, W Fitzgerald, C Kavanagh (W Waweru, 71).

St Patrick’s Athletic: J Anang, C Sjoberg (J Mulraney, 68), J Redmond, T Grivosti (L Turner, 89), B Baggley (C C Carty, 81), J Lennon, K Leavy, J McClelland (A Kazeem, 89), J Garrick (B Kavanagh, 68), S Power, M Melia.

Referee: K O’Sullivan.