League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians

SHAMROCK ROVERS

When the teams last met in Tallaght back in March, over 10,000 spectators packed into the ground for what was the largest League of Ireland attendance this century.

The Hoops won 3-1 – making it five in a row at home against the Gypsies - but in the three matches between the sides since then, Bohs have been in the ascendancy. In those games, all played out at Dalymount Park, there was a 1-1 draw in May, then there two wins for Bohs - a 1-0 FAI Cup victory in July and a come from behind 2-1 league win in the 11.30am Coldplay kick-off last month.

That victory for Bohs is their only win in their last 13 league games but Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley isn’t reading too much into Bohs’ form. He wants his team to focus on what they need to do. 

"Regardless of where Bohs are, it doesn't concern us,” said Bradley whose team’s only defeat in the last eight league games is against Bohemians. “It is about us focusing on what we do, focus on our performance level and make sure our mentality is right and when our chances come, which they always do, we have to make sure we take them.

"We are hurting from Friday as we feel we should have three points (against Derry City). We need to try and go and perform as we did on Friday in Derry (in the 1-1 draw_ and like we did on Monday in Galway (winning 2-1) or in the first half in Dalymount Park when we should have taken our chances to kill the game.

"We do that and we'll be fine. We have to focus on bringing that level of performance."

Bradley was unhappy on Friday with the awarding of the late penalty to Derry City but was full of praise for his team’s performance against the Candystripes’ press and for his goalscorer on the night Dylan Watts. 

"I thought we dealt with it really well,” said Bradley about how the Candystripes sat off Rovers before pressing in numbers. “After the first five or ten minutes, we worked it out. We controlled the game and penetrated when we wanted to and when we needed to. It was really good.

"In the second half, it was a different type of performance, more disciplined and we gave up no chances. Overall, I thought it was a really good performance.

“Our goal was an example of us penetrating them when we wanted. Once we worked it out, we had them where we wanted them. When we got to the top half of the pitch, we knew Johnny's pace would cause them problems.

"Dylan had a lot to do but where he is at the moment, the level he has been playing at, you shouldn't be surprised by that type of finish. He has been really really good.

"If you are to break it down, first assists or second assists, Dylan has been really important and has been involved in most of the good things we have done this year.

"I'm surprised that it was only his first league goal of the year, but he has added so much more to the team and this season he has played at a really high level. We have seen real maturity from him this year."

Hoops boss Stephen Bradley says VAR would be ‘positive addition to the league’ https://t.co/JsM5uYBQeqpic.twitter.com/U5w4MVfMuj

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 22, 2024

BOHEMIANS 

While Bohs have two wins and a draw against the Hoops in their last three meetings, they haven’t won in Tallaght for five seasons.

Rovers are still just about in the title race but worryingly for the visitors their home defeat to Drogheda United last Friday night means Bohs are still in a battle at the wrong end of the table. 

They sit eighth five points clear of Drogheda United who are in the relegation play-off position four points clear of basement side Dundalk.

Alan Reynolds’ team’s game in hand over the Boynesiders is Monday’s Dublin derby in Dublin 24 so it would be an excellent time for Bohs to win for the first time in Tallaght since April 2019 .

“We went into Friday’s game on the back of a positive few weeks and knowing what was at stake so our performance was very disappointing,” said Bohs boss Alan Reynolds speaking to his club’s media team.

“We didn’t start the game in the way we set out to do. We weren’t good enough in that first 25-minute spell and we allowed Drogheda to punish us by not dealing with a ball at the back post, which gave them something to hold on to and to frustrate us.

“Despite our performance not being where it needed to be, we had more than enough chances to level the game and push on. We just can’t be passing up that amount of chances in this league. There was no lack of effort, but we simply have to be more clinical in front of goal.

“It was a frustrating night for us all round, particularly because we had been improving in recent weeks. We know it was a lost opportunity for us to put some breathing space between ourselves and Drogheda. That has given us a lot of work to do, so there needs to be a response from all of us.”

A trip to Tallaght represents a big test for Bohs but they have recently beaten the Hoops in back-to-back Dalymount Park Dublin derbies. “We have shown we can beat them and we will be going to Tallaght very much in that mindset.

“On the pitch and in the stands we have risen to the occasion against the Dublin clubs over the past month but we are under no illusions that this is going to be the most difficult one yet.”

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Rovers are unbeaten in the last nine derbies against Bohs in Dublin 24 – winning eight.

April 2019 was when Bohs last won in Tallaght - Dinny Corcoran scored the only goal of the game on a night the Hoops had two players sent off in the first half (Trevor Clarke and Lee Grace).

Johnny Kenny with 12 goals is the top scorer for the Hoops (one behind from Pat Hoban who is the leads the league chart). Dayle Rooney is the Bohs top scorer in the league with six goals.

PREDICTION

1-0 home win

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Rory Gaffney, Aaron McEneff, Sean Hoare

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Bohemians

Injured: Rob Cornwall, Keith Buckley, James McManus, Filip Piszczek

Doubtful: Leigh Kavanagh, Adam McDonnell,

Suspended: Jordan Flores

Bohs boss Alan Reynolds admits side still have ‘work to do’ to avoid relegation playoff https://t.co/nPT5kFLjuipic.twitter.com/gkksnByx04

— extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) September 22, 2024