Credit:
Bohemians -v- Dundalk
- Jody Moylan
- Thu, Sep 17 2009
Cause for concern in Phibsboro perhaps. While the Bohemians camp will play down talk of a crisis, the fact remains that the Gypsies have gone four games without a win, with three defeats, as the season progresses into the final straight. The one thing guaranteed from their Cup loss away to Sligo on Tuesday night is complete focus now on retaining the title, with the upcoming EA Sports Cup final a minor distraction one imagines.
Beyond the playing field itself the importance of a successful title defence for Bohemians is colossal. The prize money to be taken is necessary to avoid breaching the FAI’s 65 percent Salary Cost Protocol in November. The club will face the drop and all its implications if financial demands are not met. Dundalk in the league at Dalymount on Friday night is not the kind of fixture Pat Fenlon would have wanted as the antidote to recent ills.
The Lillywhites can look forward to a hostile reception in Dublin 7 on Friday with the rivalry reaching boiling point this season. The five fixtures in both league and cup has seen six red cards not including Sean Connor’s dismissal to the stands on the opening day of the season. Connor was controversially sacked as Bohemians manager in 2007 and the subsequent fall out included a high court ruling in Connor‘s favour.
Add to this the players Connor brought to Dundalk from Bohs in its wake (including Tomas Heary and Darren Mansaram) and the recent side-line bust up with Pat Fenlon and one gets a picture of the red mist about to descend over Phibsboro for this clash.
After Dundalk beat Derry City at Oriel Park in July when asked by Newstalk Sport about being able to beat the top teams in the league Connor replied, “Well we haven’t beaten Bohemians yet this year and we’d definitely like to beat them.”
They haven’t beaten them since either and will be looking to score their first goal against the Gypsies in over seven years. They will take heart going into this one though after last week’s 1-0 victory over Cork City.
Bohemians lead the chasing pack at the top of the table by a single point on 55 while Dundalk lies in fifth place on 37.
Managers pre-match
Bohs manager Pat Fenlon is focused on all three points. “We know what’s at stake and we’ve got to go out and win the game. We’ve played Dundalk so many times already this season, we know each other very well and we expect it to be a tough game.”
Sean Connor is aware of the challenge his team faces but is hopeful they can build on the Cork victory. “I would say Bohs are actually more dangerous now after losing on Tuesday. They’re the best team in the country and they’ll be keen to get back to winning ways, so we have to make sure we don’t suffer a backlash. We want to build on last week’s win, and if we can do that then it sets us up nicely for the rest of the season.”
Team news
Bohemians: The Gypsies will be without midfielder Gary Deegan and goalkeeper Brian Murphy, both suspended as a result of red cards in the 2-1 defeat to Bray Wanderers. Defender Jason McGuinness is also out, having come off injured in the 2-1 loss to Sligo on Tuesday. Fenlon expects defenders Owen Heary and Ken Oman to be available for selection after injury.
Dundalk: Liam Burns, Michael Daly and Darren Mansaram are all suspended, while Kevin McKinlay and Michael McGinlay are doubtful with food poisoning and Paul McAreavey (personal reasons) could be unavailable.
Extratime.ie Prediction: a tense affair on Friday night likely to end in stalemate. 0-0
