League Preview: Bohemians -v- Shamrock Rovers

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BOHEMIANS

Declan Devine’s Bohemians will be looking to claim their first win over Shamrock Rovers this season when they face the Hoops at Dalymount Park (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

The Gypsies enjoyed a strong start to the season but have faded in recent weeks, allowing their bitter Dublin rivals to rise to top spot in the Premier Division.

However, Devine has backed his side to see off the Hoops in Dublin 7.

“This is always a huge game,” he said. “Rovers are the only team in the country we haven’t taken points from so far. That is something we want to rectify.

“The two performances against Rovers so far – first half in Dalymount we were outstanding, second half not so good.

“But the performance in Tallaght was at a very high level and we really should have got something out of that game.

“All of that is in the past and we have to go about our jobs in a professional way, get something from the game and try and win the match. We will be setting up to do that.

“Some of our performances this season have been at a very high level. We went to Tallaght and took them on, but ultimately we came away with nothing.

“That’s something that we have to rectify. It’s the second half of the season now and we have to accumulate as many points as we possibly can.”



Dean Williams is out for Bohemians, while Jay Benn’s loan at Dalymount Park has also come to an end.

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley insists that the Hoops’ trip to Dalymount Park will be a difficult game as his side look to move further clear at the top of the table.

Rovers went into the mid-season break six points clear of Derry City and St Patrick’s Athletic.

And despite the challenges that a hectic fixture list may pose in the coming weeks, Rovers are only beginning to kick into gear after an uncharacteristically slow start to the season.

“It’s going to be a difficult game, we know that,” Bradley said. “I said every time we played them that they have good players and that hasn’t changed.



“We know we’ve got to go and respect them but then impose ourselves on the game as soon as possible, and play to our levels and our standards.

“We know that if we do that we’re very difficult to beat. So it’s going to be about respect and then focusing on what we do in our performance.”

Rovers are likely to be without Trevor Clarke again, while Alan Mannus and Aaron Greene are both ruled out.

Referee: Neil Doyle.

 

PREDICTION

Bohemians 0-2 Shamrock Rovers

 

Bohemians

Injured: Dean Williams.

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: None.

 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Alan Mannus, Aaron Greene.

Doubtful: Trevor Clarke.

Suspended: None.

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