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Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
League Preview: Bohemians -v- Cork City
- Dave Donnelly
- Mon, May 04 2015
BOHEMIANS
Bohemians returned to winning ways last Friday as they overturned an early deficit to beat Derry City 2-1 at the Brandywell, thanks in part to Kealan Dillon's stunning volley.
That result lifted the Gypsies to within a point of today's opponents, Cork City, and victory here would see them finish the fist series of games in third position – a remarkable prospect for a side few would have expected to prosper following the departure of Owen Heary during the winter.
“We’ve asked the players to express themselves on the pitch. They’ve shown in their performances that they have a belief in what they are doing,” manager Keith Long told the club's website.
“Winning breeds confidence and we’ve done well so far. But we won’t take any team for granted and we won’t be complacent.
“We have surprised many people so far and we’ve probably surprised ourselves to a certain extent. But I believe in the players and in the mentality of this group and I think there’s more in them.”
Long is able to choose from a fully-fit squad for the first time since he took over the reigns of the club. Robbie Creevy has recovered from the ankle injury that had him miss the two previous games, but Daniel Byrne may be slowly reintroduced after missing eight months with a cruciate ligament injury.
CORK CITY
Cork City suffered their first defeat of the season last Friday as Dundalk fought back from a goal down to take the points at Turner's Cross.
The ten day turnaround will have been the last thing John Caulfield wanted as his team bid to rediscover their winning form, nor is Dalymount Park the ideal location to find it, Cork lost on both of their visits to Phibsborough last season.
Caulfield said, “We go to Bohemians on Monday, which is a very difficult venue for us. They have started exceptionally well and they are only a point behind us.
“The crucial thing for us is how we react. Last year after a defeat, we reacted very, very well. All of the lads were down, they were very disappointed. Dundalk are a super team and everyone says they are exceptionally fit, but if you watch it, we probably dominated the game for the last 35 minutes.
“It shows that our fitness is fantastic, our players are fantastic, as is our style of play this year; we are passing and moving very well.
“I’ve seen [Bohemians] a couple of times and they have a great attitude. They’re not spectacular, they work really hard, look like a really honest bunch of guys and they have got fantastic results, so it is important for us that we go with our “A” game to make sure that we can get a result.”
The bad news for Caulfield is that he'll face into the summer without captain John Dunleavy, who suffered a meniscal knee injury against Dundalk and faces at least four months on the sidelines.
Referee: Padraigh Sutton.
MATCH STATS
Bohemians and Cork City met five times last season.
Both clubs recorded a win and a draw from the three league encounters, while a 2-2 FAI Cup draw in Turner's Cross preceded a 1-0 victory in the replay at Dalymount Park.
BETTING
Bohemians 11/5; Draw 21/10; Cork City 13/10.
PREDICTION
Bohemians 1-1 Cork City
Bohemians
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
Cork City
Injured: John Dunleavy (knee).
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None