League Preview: UCD -v- Bohemians

Paddy Kirk (left) battles with Adam Verdon for the ball as Bohemians saw off UCD earlier this year at Dalymount Park

Paddy Kirk (left) battles with Adam Verdon for the ball as Bohemians saw off UCD earlier this year at Dalymount Park Credit: Martin Doherty (ETPhotos)

UCD

UCD will be hoping to dent Bohemians European ambitions when they welcome the Gypsies to the Belfield Bowl on Thursday night (kick-off is at 7.45pm).

Andy Myler’s side have already been relegated to the second-tier and are playing for pride ahead of the final few weeks of the season.

But they have taken points off Bohs this term at home and they will be looking to repeat the trick once again.

However, they come into the game off the back of a 6-0 defeat against Derry City in their most recent league game.

And in that loss, captain Jack Keaney was dismissed after picking up two yellow cards.

They will also be without Ireland under-19 trio Daniel Babb, Luke O’Regan and Jesse Dempsey due to their international commitments with the Boys in Green.

O’Regan and Dempsey both featured for Ireland in their 2-0 win over Scotland on Wednesday.

BOHEMIANS

Declan Devine has called on his side to perform against UCD as they look to keep their hopes of a top-four finish in the league alive.



The Gypsies can secure a European berth if they finish four or win the FAI Cup against St Patrick’s Athletic next month.

But Devine wants them to achieve that through the league, starting with a visit to UCD.

“We have to look at it as an opportunity to go out and perform,” he said. “It’s a venue where we haven’t won this year and we want to put that right.

“Nothing else right now matters. It’s vitally important that we go there with the right mindset and I have no doubt that we will because we have a really strong bunch of players.

“We aren’t the only team to drop points against UCD. Rovers recently went and drew 0-0 with them.

“It was a game where Rovers dominated but couldn’t find the cutting edge they needed so that must be a lesson to us.



“We have got to go there with a real positive mindset and perform to the levels we are capable of, and move the ball as quickly as we possibly can.

“We have so many creative players in our team that against anybody, we can create problems. That has to be the goal.

“There are no gimmies in this league, so we have to be at it in every game between now and the end of the league campaign.”

James McManus will be unavailable for Bohs due to his international commitments with the Ireland under-19 squad.

Referee: David Dunne.

 

MATCH STATS

UCD have the worst home record in the Premier Division this season, picking up just nine points from 15 games – although both of their two wins have come at the Dublin 4 venue.

Bohemians have won just twice on their last six visits to the UCD Bowl. They have lost once and drawn the other three games. Bohs have, however, five of their last six fixtures against the Students.

Andy Myler’s side have failed to score in their last five and have conceded 16 goals during that period. But they have picked up a point during that period against Shamrock Rovers with a scoreless draw against the Hoops.

PREDICTION

UCD 0 - 2 Bohemians

 

UCD

Injured: N/A.

Doubtful: N/A.

Unavailable: Jesse Dempsey, Daniel Babb, Luke O'Regan.

Suspended: Jack Keaney.

 

Bohemians

Injured: None.

Doubtful: None.

Unavailable: James McManus.

Suspended: None.

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