Bohemians vs St Patricks Athletic

• Graeme McQueen
• Mon, Sep 08 2008




If there remain any doubts about the destination of the eircom Premier League title, then league leaders Bohemians can all but end them tonight when they take on nearest challengers St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park (kick-off 19.45).

Friday night's one nil victory over Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds edged the Gypsies an incredible 13-points clear at the top of the Premier and while St Pat's have a game in hand over their Dublin rivals, anything other than a victory tonight and they can kiss goodbye to any feint aspirations they may still have about lifting the title.

Few would have thought this would be the situation back in March when St Pat's marched in on Dalymount on the second weekend of the season and departed with all three points after a 25-yard wonder-strike from Keith Fahey sealed victory in a game which they dominated from start to finish.

The feeling after that match was that Bohs were a long way behind their rivals from across the River Liffey and that Pat's were the team who looked most capable of wresting the title away from the cluthces of Drogheda United. However, the Gypsies have answered their critics in some style.

Indeed, that defeat is the last, and only, time Bohs were beaten in the league this season - their 22-game unbeaten league run including a narrow one goal victory over St Pat's at Richmond Park back at the end of May.

Nevertheless, there's little chance of Bohs' manager Pat Fenlon getting carried away and he is eager to play down any premature talk of league titles.. He said: ""Before the season started, I would have settled for being seven points off the lead going into the final series of games. Other managers will feel that they are still in with a shout. I am not trying to fool anyone by saying that because this is a very hard league to win and it's still all to play for.

"St Pat's are a very good side and they have come to Dalymount already this season and won. We have to ensure that our attitude and application are spot on for this game because we will be punished if we do not match the opposition in those departments. We have to remain concentrated and focused for the full ninety minutes to succeed in this game. The likes of Keith Fahey and Mark Quigley are capable of punishing any defensive lapses and the visiting defence will deny us any easy chances. We have to hit the ground running and maintain it for the full ninety minutes," added Fenlon.

Bohs go in to the game missing two of their star performers over recent weeks with Gary Deegan serving the second game of a two match ban and Mindaugas Kalonas away on international duty with Lithuania. Fenlon will therefore be buoyed by the return of two other midfielders. Stephen O'Donnell returns to the squad following suspension, while Glenn Cronin is also back in the frame aftera knee ligament injury. However, he is unlikely to start after being out of action for so long.

Speaking ahead of the game, Saints' manager Johnny McDonnell conceded that the league title is now firmly within Bohs' grasp. "There is no doubt that it's definitely Bohs' to lose at this stage and fair play to them," he said. "They got a one nil [win] the other night and they've been grinding them out and that's what you need to do to be there or thereabouts."

St Pat's also have their injury worries going in to the game. Fahey, is their main concern due to a knee-injury, while Dave Rogers (hamstring) and Stephen Paisley (groin) are out, along with striker John Murphy (back).

On a brighter note, Joe O'Cearuill, Gary Dempsey, Bobby Ryan and Gary O'Neill should all make the game having been doubts for Friday's postponed game against Galway.