19.45 20 Apr 2015 -
Referee: Robert Rogers
League Preview: Sligo Rovers -v- Bohemians
- Fran Reilly
- Mon, Apr 20 2015
SLIGO ROVERS
If you asked Owen Heary where he thought his new Sligo Rovers side would be in the table after their first eight Premier Division games of the season, the chances are that third from bottom with only six points and eight goals would not have been his answer.
Yet that is where the Bit O'Red find themselves after their 1-1 draw with Longford Town at the City Calling Stadium on Friday night. It is not the shape in which Heary would have wanted to meet his former employers Bohemians, a fact exacerbated by the success his replacement, Keith Long, is enjoying at Dalymount Park.
Heary brought in a number of new faces in the summer and a deceptive pre-season in which Sligo banged in 33 goals in six games (albeit against First Division and junior opposition) indicated they gelled much sooner than has actually proven to be the case.
Expectations were heightened at a club which in recent years has become accustomed to a certain standard of football, but the manager needs more time. That said, though there's plenty of football to be played yet, history has proven that no team is “too good to go down” and the players will be anxious to start climbing back up the table as soon as possible.
Heary, however, believes he is not far off the solution. “I think things are coming together now slowly but surely, it’s still a work in progress. We are still getting the players to come around to the defensive way of thinking, to be sure that they do their defensive jobs as well as the attacking,” Heary told sligorovers.com in the aftermath of the Longford game.
“At the start of the season we were probably a bit too gung-ho where we were putting too many bodies forward, maybe because of pre-season going so well,” added Heary. “But it’s starting to get into their heads where they have to be for the defensive shape. It’s slowly but surely getting there but by no means we are the finished article, we have to go out now on Monday and get something from that game.”
Heary is still missing Steven Beattie (hamstring), Gavin Peers (groin) and Jeff Henderson (foot), while a virus will keep Kevin Devaney out of the game against his former club. However, Ryan McManus is available again after missing the trip to Longford with a groin injury.
BOHEMIANS
Bohemians come into this game on the back of a 1-0 defeat to St. Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park on Friday night, the Gypsies' second defeat of the season. Bohs could perhaps be forgiven for ruing a missed opportunity to steal a point from a game in which they trailed for 55 minutes, especially after Dean Delany saved Killian Brennan's 70th minute spotkick – the 'keeper's second penalty save of the campaign.
Despite being unable to cancel out Ciaran Kilduff's goal, Keith Long's men will travel to the Showgrounds no less confident, buoyed by an unbeaten away record in the league which has seen them claim wins at Limerick (0-3), Bray Wanderers (0-1) and Drogheda United (0-1) and draw with Shamrock Rovers (0-0) in Tallaght.
Former Burnley and Inverness Caledonian Thistle winger Adam Evans has had a big role in Bohs' excellent start to the season. His three league goals make him the club's top scorer ahead of experienced forwards Dean Kelly, Marc Griffin and Jason Byrne.
The resurgence of Lorcan Fitzgerald has also been key for Long. After making just seven appearances in two seasons at Pat's, the 26 year old has rediscovered his best form in Phibsboro – he has been integral in a solid rearguard while offering a threat on the overlap and a deadball ability which has already seen him net one goal against Limerick on the opening day.
Referee: Robert Rogers
MATCH STATS
Sligo Rovers have scored just eight goals from their first eight league games – the same amount they scored in one game against the Mayo League in the EA Sports Cup in March.
Bohemians haven't beaten Sligo Rovers in any competition since a 2-1 victory at the Showgrounds in August 2011 – a run stretching 11 games (ten in the Premier Division and the 2011 FAI Cup semi-final).
Keith Buckley and Roberto Lopes are the only surviving members of Bohs' matchday squad from that day, while Sligo goalscorer Gavin Peers, Raff Cretaro and Johnny Russell were part of the Bit O'Red squad. Owen Heary togged out for Bohs that day too, of course.
BETTING
Sligo Rovers 6/5; Draw 11/5; Bohemians 9/4.
PREDICTION
Sliigo Rovers 1-2 Bohemians
Sligo Rovers
Injured: Kevin Devaney (virus), Steven Beattie (hamstring), Gavin Peers (groin), Jeff Henderson (foot).
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: Daniel Ledwith.
Bohemians
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
About Fran Reilly
Fran Reilly joined Extratime.ie in February 2015 having previously written for the Drogheda/Fingal Independents, loi19.com and the Cork City matchday programme. Though only part of the ET family for a relatively short time, the Donaghmede …