Re-start Club Preview: Bohemians

Club: Bohemians

Manager: Keith Long

Highest league goalscorer: Danny Mandroiu (3)

Current position: 3rd

How we thought they would do for the 2020 season

After a breakthrough 2019 season in which the Phibsboro club challenged the top two for much of the season and secured European football for the first time in seven years, we expected the Gypsies to continue and secure their place in the top three.

So far, so good, as the Gypsies went into the enforced break in third place, with three wins from five games, just behind Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk.

How they did in the opening part of the season

Slightly inconsistent in terms of results, but the Gypsies have largely continued their form from last year.

An injury-time winner from Aaron Greene in the opening-day derby with Shamrock Rovers was a body blow, while a 2-0 defeat away to Derry was perhaps understandable, but otherwise form has been good.



Three 2-0 wins on the bounce show that Keith Long’s charges have no problem finding the net and remain reasonably strong in defence with just three conceded across those five games.

Moment of the season so far

A 2-0 win over Dublin rivals Shelbourne will have been extra special given the Reds’ extended absence from the top tier, and the fact they will shortly become housemates at Tolka Park and, eventually, Dalymount.

Second half goals from Danny Mandroiu and Andre Wright were enough to earn the home side a hard-fought victory and propel them up to third in the table before lockdown intervened.

Stand out player so far this season

There can only be one answer and it’s the outstanding Danny Mandroiu, who has already amassed more than 25% of his tally for the whole of last season.



His form over the past 18 months has earned many admirers and Dutch club Twente were weighing up a bid over the summer but have so far failed to follow through.

He’s netted in each of Bohemians’ three wins and, though he picked up an injury in the pre-restart friendly with Longford Town, his presence will be key to his side’s success this year.

Transfers in/out prior to the restart

In: Callum Thompson (Wolverhampton Wanderers).

Out: Marlon Marishta (Bray Wanderers), Callum Thompson (Bray Wanderers – loan).

What they need to do in the restart

Bohemians’ ambitions are more than just maintaining their position in the league – Keith Long’s four years in charge have seen incremental improvement each season.

The manager demands it and the players demand it of themselves, so anything less than a serious battle to break the Rovers-Dundalk duopoly will be seen as a slight letdown.

Where we see them finishing

3rd. Bohemians haven’t recruited any new faces (bar Callum Thompson, who’s gone out on loan) but, having recruited well in the off-season, will be confident of hitting the ground running.

Two months of regular training time without matches will have been used well by Long and assistant Trevor Croly to cement their vision on the training field and give the team the best chance of success.

Who will they face in the FAI Cup?

Bohemians received a bye in round one.

First post-lockdown league fixture

Away v Cork City (Sunday, August 2nd)