League Preview: Bohemians -v- Shamrock Rovers

BOHEMIANS

Managerless Bohemians will begin life without Keith Long as they play host to bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park tonight (kick off 7.45pm).

After eight years of the same routine the Gypsies will be guided by Trevor Croly and Derek Pender after the club parted company with Long earlier this week following three straight home defeats including a 3-1 reverse against St Patrick’s Athletic.

The aim of qualifying for Europe via the league is all but gone for the Phibsborough side who have been haemorrhaging talent over the last year with nine new arrivals coming in July but failing to gel.

Bohs still have the FAI Cup route but have been handed a tough assignment up the road in Tolka Park.

Speaking ahead of the game to his club’s website, Pender said: “It’s been a very difficult week. It’s not nice to see someone lose their job.

“It’s been tough for the staff, the players and everyone involved at the club. Really hard.

“We all have so much respect for Keith for everything he did for the club, and for the players and staff over the last seven or eight years.

“It’s a bit of a shock to the system. On Tuesday evening, Keith came in and told the players and staff what was going on.

“The players are obviously down after what happened because Keith is a great man and everyone has a huge amount of respect for him.

“We all know we have let him down, and we all know the club did not want to have to make that decision to let Keith go.

“He means a lot to me as a person as well as a manager. Everyone at the club loves him.”

“The club has asked me and Trevor to look after the players until the club makes a decision about what they want to do.

“Me and Trevor have been part of the club for a long time, and we will do what we are asked to do to the best that we can.

“We have to regroup quickly. We have a massive, massive game now.

“In spite of everything, the players will be looking forward to it and they will be giving it everything they can for the club. That is the least we expect from them.

“Rovers are flying at the moment, everything is going well for them. They are a top side, you can see that – they are top of the league and they have qualified for the group stages of the Europa Conference League.

“Their squad is very strong. It will be a tough game but it is a Dublin derby, they are different to any other league game. Anything can happen, and it’s not a hard game for players to motivate themselves for.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops will be looking to wrap up a fourth Dublin Derby win on the spin against Bohs albeit in front of depleted numbers with just 358 fans being permitted into the Des Kelly stand by the home club.

Stephen Bradley’s side are seven points clear of nearest challengers Derry City whom they travel to in the FAI Cup as they hunt a third Premier Division title in a row but a first double under Bradley.

Graham Burke and Chris McCann could be involved after periods out with injury which will be welcome news for Rovers with the beginning of their UEFA Conference League campaign starting next Thursday.

Manager Stephen Bradley is looking forward to the game and is expecting a reaction from Bohemians following the departure of old adversary, Keith Long.
 

“It’s the next big game for us. That is the mindset that the players are in. We are rolling from big game to big game, and that’s where we want to be. 

“Our aim is to go and win the game and take another step towards winning the league, which is one of our goals. We know it’s important to go there and perform to pick up the three points.

“I’m sure that there will be a reaction (to Long’s departure), but we can’t affect that. We have no control over that, we will go there and control what we do. If we go and perform to our levels the result will look after itself.”

It has been a busy week for Shamrock Rovers off the pitch with Andy Lyons confirmed to leave for the beach in Blackpool in January while the midfield has also been bolstered with the deadline day arrival of Ukrainian Viktor Serdeniuk. 

Bradley says keeping Lyons at the club for the remainder of the domestic campaign and the group stages in Europe was paramount.

“There wouldn’t have been a deal to be done if that wasn’t the case. Stephen McPhail has been dealing with that for a number of weeks, and we were adamant that Andy stayed on. Blackpool wanted him now, but it was really important that we kept him for what is an important run-in for us, we’re delighted that he is here for the remainder of the season.”

Referee: Rob Hennessey

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers can open a 26-point gap between themselves and Bohemians if they can secure the win.

The Hoops won the corresponding Dalymount fixture 3-1 earlier in the season with 1-0 wins coming either side of that in Tallaght.

Bohs have won three of the last four Dublin Derbies at Dalymount Park in league and cup.

PREDICTION 

2-0 away win

TEAM NEWS

Bohemians

Injured: James Talbot (shoulder), Laurenz Dehl (knee), Conor Levingston (knee), Jordan Doherty (hamstring), 

Doubtful: John O’Sullivan (quad), Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe (knee)

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Pico Lopes

Doubtful: Simon Power

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers draw AZ Alkmaar in UEFA Youth League First Round https://t.co/YdxruO8Vlrpic.twitter.com/k5qiLYFapP

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 1, 2022