19.45 14 Aug 2015 -
Referee:
League Preview: Bohemians -v- Galway United
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Aug 13 2015
BOHEMIANS
Bohemians will be looking to stop the rot on Friday night after recent away defeats to Cork City and basement club Limerick.
Gypsies boss Keith Long is looking for a whole lot more from his charges, especially amongst his defense which has leaked eight goals in their last two competitive outings.
“To concede four goals in two consecutive away games just isn’t good enough and we have worked hard this week to make sure we tighten things up defensively,” Long admitted.
“The players recognise where we have to improve. We’ve got to get back to being difficult to beat. The last couple of games we’ve been very open to play against, and that’s something we’ll try to solve.”
The former Athlone boss has also saluted the Bohs faithful who made the trips to see their team underperform in their two recent trips to Munster.
“We didn’t give them (the fans) value for money and we’ve got to build back that trust with them on Friday night. We’ve got to make sure we leave nothing on the pitch,” Long insisted.
Long concluded by revealing his desire for his side to finish the 2015 season as strongly as possible in order to continue the positive project that's been started at the Phibsboro club in recent months.
“We’ve got to win every match we possibly can. We owe that to the supporters, to the club and to ourselves,” the Bohs boss exclaimed.
“The club is moving forward on and off the pitch and we’re not going to carry anyone who doesn’t buy into what we’re trying to do,” he concluded.
Derek Pender will continue to miss out for the Gypsies through injury. However, both Lorcan Fitzegerald and Eoin Wearen are expected to return to Long's squad after recent injury problems. Back-up goalkeeper Lee Steacy is also expected to return after recovering from a hand injury he picked up in training.
GALWAY UNITED
Galway will be looking to bounce back from last week's 4-0 defeat to Derry City at Eamon Deacy Park when they travel to Dalymount on Friday night.
Like Bohs boss Keith Long, United manager Tommy Dunne has been frustrated by the amount of goals his side have been conceding in recent weeks.
"Defensively, we have to be tidying up," Dunne conceded.
"There has been a lot of goals shipped and it's coming into the critical stage of the season where we need to be picking up points," Dunne furthered.
Dunne believes his side have been unlucky in recent weeks, suggesting that referee decision making and injuries may have cost his squad points in recent weeks.
"The last two results didn't help us in the league but the Bray one in particular, I thought the decision to allow the goal against us was poor, I also thought the penalty decision against us last week against Derry was poor and it turned the game," the Galway boss suggested.
"Normally these things iron themselves out over the course of the season but at the moment, we're on the end of a few dubious decisions.
United will be without Andy O'Connell, Ryan Connolly and Padraic Cunningham through injury, while Enda Curran, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry and Conor Melody are all doubts, meaning Dunne has been forced to draft in a number of players from the Connacht outfit's under 19 team.
"Right now, we've got five under 19's in our group because we're very short. These guys are coming in and filling in for us. We've got seven on the injury-list at the minute and it's taking its toll.
Referee: James McKell.
MATCH STATS
Bohemians will be looking to avoid losing three competitive games on the bounce for the first time this season on Friday night.
Galway have lost just twice in their last seven games on the road.
United have already beaten Keith Long’s side twice (including an EA Sports Cup tie) this season. However, it was the Gypsies that came out on top when the teams met at Dalymount Park in March.
PREDICTION
Bohemians 3-2 Galway United
Bohemians
Injured: Anto Murphy, Derek Pender.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Galway United
Injured: Andy O'Connell, Ryan Connolly, Padraic Cunningham.
Doubtful: Enda Curran, Marc Ludden, Conor Barry, Conor Melody.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …