League Preview: Bohemians -v- Shamrock Rovers

BOHEMIANS 

Bohs were on the wrong end of a new manager bounce when they lost 2-0 to the Noel King-led Dundalk last weekend so they themselves will be anxious to bounce back from that defeat when they entertain Shamrock Rovers in Dalymount Park this Friday night (KO 7.45pm).

The Gypsies had responded well to the arrival of their own new manager Alan Reynolds in recent weeks and went into the game at Oriel Park on the back of three consecutive wins.

They were 2-0 behind at the break however and whatever chance they had of gaining at least one point from the match evaporated in the 62^nd minute when James Akintunde’s penalty was saved by Lilywhites keeper George Shelvey.

They are still in a healthy enough position in the league table despite that defeat at Dundalk, occupying fourth place on 19 points, only six points off leaders Shelbourne and with one game in hand over the three teams ahead of them.

Reynolds spoke to the Bohs media team this week in advance of the Rovers game and said “Before last week’s game, I felt we were getting the basics right. We were winning our duels, our individual battles.

“But that is something we didn’t do last Friday against Dundalk. We were disappointed with our performance, particularly in the first half.’’

He also added: “There was a bug in the team last week, which played a part as it affected three or four players. It affected us in terms of the changes we needed to make at half-time too. But thankfully, bar Danny Grant, it is gone from the group this week.

“We know that there will be a slightly different game plan against Shamrock Rovers this time compared to how we played them the last time. But we have prepared well.

“The lads were disappointed with themselves last week, particularly in the first half as I said, and I want to see a response from them.”

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Shamrock Rovers slow but unsurprising climb up the league table continued unabated last Monday night when they had a thoroughly deserved 4-0 home win against second from the bottom Drogheda United.

The win in that catch up fixture, re-arranged due to a snow postponement, propelled them into second place in the table, just two points behind league leaders Shelbourne.

Despite their slow start to the season, they have still only lost two games all season and they head to Dalymount Park on Friday night with a five-game unbeaten run to their credit.

The Hoops lost Richie Towell to injury during the Drogheda game and he became the tenth player on their never-ending injury list, joining Sean Hoare, Lee Grace, Neil Farrugia, Gary O’Neill, Markus Poom, Aaron McNeff, Jack Byrne, Graham Burke and Rory Gaffney on the treatment table.

Some of those players are close to a return to action while others require more rehab time, so the Rovers medical team will continue to have to work overtime to get these players back on the pitch as quickly as possible.

Despite the injury concerns manager Stephen Bradley is looking forward to another high intensity Dublin Derby and he spoke to the Irish Mirror this week, saying “Derbies can be anything, last year with Bohs we were 2-0 up there, it finished 2-2 and could have lost the game in 10 minutes, like Arsenal-Tottenham on Sunday, they were ahead and it could have been 3-3,” said Bradley.

“It changes so quickly so we have to stay focused. I know how they will play, how Alan (Reynolds) likes to play and it will be a tough one.

“They have been really good, we beat them here and after that they went on a really good run, Dublin derbies are always tough and Alan's teams are well drilled,” he added.

“I think in all bar one of their games they have been happy having less of the possession and winning games and we have to be ready for that.

“They have Connolly who is lightning quick, dribblers in Clarke and Rooney on the left, they are good in transition so we have to be ready for that.”

Referee: Damian McGrath

MATCH STATS

Bohemians have struggled to beat Shamrock Rovers either at home or away over the last two seasons, not a great omen for them as they face into Friday night’s fixture.

They have one win and won draw in their last eight encounters going back to April 2022 with Rovers in the ascendancy in all other six fixtures.

The most recent joust was at Tallaght Stadium at the end of March where the Hoops were totally in control of the game, leading 3-0 until the 90^th minute when Declan McDaid scored a consolation goal for the Gypsies.

Rovers’ goal scorers on the night were Johnny Kenny, Darragh Burns and Aaron Greene.

Those same three players are also on the list of top ten goal scorers in the Premier Division after 13 matches, Aaron Greene (7), Darragh Burns (4) and Johnny Kenny (4), while Bohemians have one in that category, James Akintunde (4).

BETTING 

Bohemians 3/1; Draw 12/5; Shamrock Rovers 17/20

PREDICTION

Bohemians 0 - 2 Shamrock Rovers 

Bohemians 

Injured:  Keith Buckley, Rob Cornwall, Danny Grant.

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Shamrock Rovers    

Injured: Aaron McNeff, Gary O Neill, Graham Burke, Richie Towell, Lee Grace

Doubtful:  Markus Poom, Sean Hoare, Neil Farrugia, Jack Byrne, Rory Gaffney

Suspended: None

League Preview: St Patrick’s Athletic -v- Drogheda United https://t.co/X9pDHUg1Ckpic.twitter.com/jdPQBqtfmV

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