League Preview: Bohemians -v- Sligo Rovers

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians resume their push for the highest-possible league finish when they host Sligo Rovers on Friday. Kick-off in Dalymount Park is 7.45pm.

“A win against Sligo would put us just three points behind them and we might move ahead of Derry,” said manager Owen Heary.

“We could be playing Derry in the last game of the season to see who finishes ahead.

“To finish seventh or sixth would be a good achievement for the club as a whole and for the players who have worked really hard.

“Any player should want to finish as well as possible. There are players too who are playing for a place in the squad next season.”

This game comes just over a month after a rescheduled league game at the Showgrounds was decided by the odd goal in five.

Sligo won 3-2 but also ended ahead on yellow cards, 4-1, all of them given out in the tense last 20 minutes of the encounter.

“They’re a good side, but we don’t want them to let them get away from us,” said Heary.

Bohemians have had two fewer defeats in the league than Sligo Rovers and are unbeaten at home since Dundalk’s 2-0 victory at Dalymount at the end of May.

“We have done quite well at home despite the problems early on. We have lost only four games at home,” said Heary.

“The one thing we had to do, was to make sure we were hard to beat, and we weren’t that last week against Pat’s.”

The manager gave his players some time off since losing 3-1 to St Patrick’s Athletic 11 days ago.

“You can allow for a few players who were tired, but there were some performances that were not up to the standard we have been asking for. We did not impose ourselves on the game,” said Heary of the Richmond Park game.

Captain on the night Derek Pender came off with a calf injury late in that game and he may miss the rest of the season.

 “He’s been excellent all season. He’s had to fill in at left-back and he’s done it without moaning,” said Heary.

“He’s gone back to the right side and he’s scored two great goals. He’s been a leader on and off the park.

“He keeps telling me he’ll make it back for the last game. He’s that committed.”

Kevin Devaney (toe injury) is out for Friday but has returned to training and is expected to be available for next week’s match away to Cork City. Dan Byrne (cruciate) is sidelined for the longer-term.

Dave Mulcahy, who did not make it to the St Pat’s game in time due to a major traffic disruption on the M50, is suspended for Friday. But Anto Murphy, who returned from injury to come off the bench against St Pat’s and scored a late consolation goal, has had more time to regain fitness.

Jason Byrne has also recovered from a knee injury that kept him out of the squad against St Patrick’s Athletic.

Steven Beattie is likely to feature again in the back line. But Heary may also take the opportunity to look more closely at some of the players who are in the frame for next season’s squad, among them defender Stephen Best.

SLIGO ROVERS

Interim manager Gavin Dykes will be looking for a second win in charge having beaten UCD last weekend in his third game since taking over.

Rovers won in impressive fashion at the Showgrounds on Saturday putting four goals past the Students. Eamon Zayed, Gary Armstrong, Paul O’Conor and Danny Ledwith all getting on the score-sheet.

Bohs sit two places below the Bit o’Red on the SSE Airtricty League table but are six points adrift. They have had mixed form lately with two wins, two draws and two defeats in their last six games.
 

Once again Rovers will still be without several players for the game because of injury. John Russell, Alan Keane, Jeff Henderson and Iarfhlaith Davoren will play no part in the game.

Gary Rogers is also doubtful for the game due to the ankle problem that has been troubling him recently.

David Cawley is absent due to suspension having received eight bookings for the season. However Dykes is boosted by the return from suspension of Seamus Conneely.

Regan Donelon will also not play as he is away on international duty with the Republic of Ireland under-19 team in Sweden.

Gavin Dykes said mood at training has been good following the 4-0 win over UCD last week: “The mood had been fairly good anyway but we were delighted to get the win. The players have been great for myself and Ciaran since we came in. Week by week they have been taking on board what we are trying to get across to them.
 

“In the UCD game we created 17 chances and it’s been a while since we have had that many. We will be looking to build on the win tomorrow against Bohs.”
 

Dykes singled out Danny North for praise for the hard work he has put in for him: “Danny has had to play wide-right and wide-left and he has been brilliant. Wherever he has been asked to play he has done so really well and hasn’t complained about it. He has really been fantastic for me.”

Speaking on Gary Armstrong who had a man of the match display on debut against UCD Dykes stressed the importance of keeping the 18-year old’s feet on the ground: “He’s a level-headed lad anyway. He just wants to go and play football. He is a great talent. He did really well last week and he will look to keep improving and hopefully do well again against Bohs.”

On Friday's opposition Bohs Dykes said: “They are a very decent side and Owen Heary has done a great job there. We saw a month ago how good a team they can be and on that night they rested a few players. Dalymount Park is always a hard place to go so it will be a tough game but we are still confident we can get the win.
 

He said he will have to manage the squad with the Accrington Stanley friendly coming two days later: “It will be a busy couple of days. The under-19s also have a game on Monday night. So we will have to see how the squad is after the Bohs game before seeing who can play.”

Referee: Sean Grant

MATCH STATS

Sligo Rovers have lost 12 games so far this season, 9 of which have been on their travels. Last season they lost a total of 5, four of which came away from home.

Bohemians, on the other hand, lost 18 games last season but so far this season they have lost 10.

Sligo’s away losses are only topped by the bottom two teams UCD and Athlone Town (12 and 11)

BETTING

Bohemians 6/4; Draw 9/4; Sligo Rovers 17/10

PREDICTION

A draw under 2.5 goals so going with Bohemians 1 – 1 Sligo Rovers.

Bohemians

Injured: Kevin Devaney (toe injury), Dan Byrne (cruciate)

Doubtful: None

Suspended: Dave Mulcahy

Sligo Rovers

Injured: John Russell, Alan Keane, Jeff Henderson and Iarfhlaith Davoren

Doubtful: Gary Rogers

Suspended: David Cawley

International Duty: Regan Donelon