League Preview: Bohemians -v- Sligo Rovers

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians have been a top four side since the season started and they will look to consolidate that status when they entertain Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park on Friday night.

Their cause was certainly helped by the results of the teams around them last weekend as St Patricks Athletic, currently in fourth place. were the only team in the top six to record a victory in the 18^th series of games.

Bohs were able to maintain close contact with the front runners Shamrock Rovers and Derry City with both of these teams losing away from home at the weekend.

The Gypsies do have a game in hand but they did not take full advantage of that last Friday when they were only able to pick up a single point in their 0-0 draw with Shelbourne, a point which leaves them in third slot on 30 points.

Bohemians played the better football in the Shels game, but couldn't break down the resolute Reds, who boast the league's best defensive record this season.

In a game of generally poor quality, The Gypsies had chances through Kris Twardek, Ali Coote and Declan McDaid but never managed to beat Conor Kearns in goal and eventually had to settle for a point.

Manager Declan Devine spoke with the Bohemians media team this week and said: “We need to get back to winning ways and we are under no illusions.

“The last four games, to only pick up two points, we are fully aware that we have to get back on track in terms of getting wins, especially at home.

“It doesn’t matter who we’re playing on Friday. It’s key that we go after maximum points because it has been four or five weeks now since we achieved that.

“Some of the performances have been good but give me three points – that’s the ultimate goal, and that’s what we have got to be going after. There’s no point dressing it up any other way.”

SLIGO ROVERS

Sligo Rovers put a recent indifferent run of form behind them in no uncertain terms last Saturday night when they recorded a significant 1-0 home win against leaders Derry City.

The narrow win allowed them to arrest a poor run which saw them lose three on the trot, and it was also significant in that it prevented the Foylesiders from extending their lead at the top of the table to four points.

The Bit O’ Red is now on 22 points and in seventh place in the table, with a not insurmountable seven- point gap to the fourth- placed team St Patrick’s Athletic.

Rovers enjoyed European Conference League football last season and that will have whetted their appetite for more of the same this season.

That win over Derry proved that they are capable of matching the top sides in the league, but their inconsistency has been their biggest problem as the first half of the season draws to a close.

They took a very early fourth minute lead on Saturday night, with the hard-working Frank Livak putting in a cross that fell kindly for ex Derry City player Will Fitzgerald to beat Brain Maher in goals, albeit with the aid of a deflection.

John Russell’s side did extremely well to maintain that slender lead to the end, particularly as they were down to ten men from the 74^th minute.

They lost John Mahon to a second yellow but also were forced to replace centre back Nando Pijnaker through injury as early as the 33^rd minute.

Russell is already without ACL victims Gary Buckley and Gary Boylan so their resources will certainly be stretched for the trip to Dalymount Park as well as for the visit of Shamrock Rovers to the Showgrounds on the Bank Holiday Monday

Referee: Eoghan O Shea

MATCH STATS

The Gypsies travelled to the Showgrounds in Sligo in April for the first of this campaign’s three matches and came away with all three points.

29-year-old Polish native Kristian Nowak scored his first goal for Bohs in that game, an 83^rd minute towering header from a corner giving Declan Devine’s side a narrow 1-0 win.

Sligo Rovers club captain David Cawley has spent 10 seasons with the club, making 296 appearances, and will be granted a testimonial match in August

BETTING

Bohemians 1/1; Draw 11/5; Sligo Rovers 5/2.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 1-1 Sligo Rovers

Bohemians

Injured:  Dean Williams, Dylan Connolly.

Doubtful: Jonathan Afolabi

Suspended: James McManus

Sligo Rovers

Injured: Gary Buckley, Gary Boylan

Doubtful: Greg Bolger, Nando Pijnaker.

Suspended: John Mahon