'It's an important game for both teams, as everyone in the league is playing for something' - Keith Ward speaks ahead of away trip to Shelbourne

Keith Ward hopes Bohemians can keep the pressure on Shamrock Rovers with a win against Shelbourne this evening at Tolka Park. 

Speaking to extratime.com, Ward admitted that catching Rovers at this point in the season is “a big ask”. 

However, Bohs, spurred on by their sensational comeback win against Derry last week, are still focused on getting the most out of their five remaining fixtures. 

“You would like to – if they do slip up in a game – keep that little bit of pressure on, you’d never know. Worst case scenario, it keeps us in a better place for second place.”

Ward played a crucial role in securing the most unlikely of three points against Derry last Friday. The nature of the win has given the Phibsborough outfit a much-needed moral boost heading into the final stretch of a truncated season. 

“It was a mad feeling after the game, a little get out of jail card. Because I don't feel like the last while we were getting that bit of luck, so to get it like that was great.

“To be honest, the ones you play bad in and you win like that kind of feel better than the ones you play well in and win”, he said. 

“To be honest training this week has been great, and it's given us another little lift now, to kind of try finish out the season as well as we can”, he added. 

Ward was called upon by Keith Long deep into the second half against Derry. The Dubliner grabbed the equaliser from the spot before Andre Wright clinched the winner amid a goalmouth scramble. 

Ward is embracing his ‘super-sub’ reputation: “I probably should never say this, but I don’t mind coming on as a sub sometimes. I do like the responsibility of coming on and hoping to change the game.

“I do, I enjoy the responsibility, I always have, of coming on when you're losing, you know. Feeling like I could come on and change the game. To be honest I thought I done well when I came on the other day.

“I know obviously I got the penalty and that, I took it. But, I thought I did make a difference when I came on, and I think that's good for the team, maybe seeing coming on, it gives us a bit of a lift.

“Like Dinny coming on, and Rossy (Ross Tierney) came on and made an impact, it’s good, [it shows] how important the squad is. To have players that can make an impact coming off the bench”, he added.

Looking ahead to the Shelbourne clash, Ward contends that it will be “tough”, especially given the home side's recent slump in the league standings. 

“It’s a Dublin derby, and they’re fighting for points at the moment down the bottom end, so it will be tough.

“I think it's an important game for both teams, as in, everyone in the league is playing for something. I think, especially where Shels are at the moment, I think three points for them could be massive.”

That being said, this tie is by no means a dead rubber for a Bohs perspective: “At the moment, I know Rovers have that stretch, but everyone is playing for something at the moment. It's as important for us this game on Saturday, as it is for Shels.”