Bohemians' Keith Long: 'It's been a fantastic week - seven points from nine and we move on'

Bohemians manager Keith Long praised the effort of his players as a 0-0 draw with Bray Wanderers on Friday night brought them to seven points from nine in the past week.

It has been an excellent week for the Phibsboro side, after seemingly sliding back towards the relegation scrap on the back of three winless performances.

They picked up two massive victories in the Dublin Derby away to Shamrock Rovers – their first in Tallaght since 2012 – and topped that performance by giving Cork City their first taste of defeat in the League on Monday.

Friday's draw made it seven points from nine, and Long was thankful for the work his players put in.

“We've had two clean sheets – Monday and here tonight”, Long commented.

“The lads have worked extremely hard. There's lots of tired bodies in there.

“We were a little bit flat tonight, but it's three games in a week with part-time players. W

“We did make some changes down in Cork which worked, but tonight is just one of those nights where you have to take the result. We ground it out.”

The week certainly had taken its toll on the Bohs players, particularly going forward where strike partnership Izzy Akinade and Dinny Corcoran looked tired at the top.

Akinade completed the full 90 against both Rovers and Bray, and also started the game in Turner's Cross having not played 90 minutes at since last August.

Corcoran was feeling unwell during the week, Long revealed, and was replaced on the hour mark by Keith Ward.

“It's probably a little bit tough on him tonight, his third game in a week”, he said.

“He played 60-65 minutes down in Cork after a tough 90 against Rovers, and I think you could see, even though he felt fresh, visibly he looked drained, along with Dinny who was sick Wednesday and Thursday.

“It was a flat performance, lacked a little bit of energy. The players still don't lack for effort, but we didn't really create any chances.

“But a fantastic week, beating Cork away, beating Rovers away, our performance didn't do enough tonight and I think a point was a fair result.

“But it's been a great week, it's been a positive week, seven points from nine and we move on.”