Bohemians -v- Sligo Rovers

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Bohemians will be looking to repeat their earlier victory over Sligo Rovers when they welcome Paul Cook’s side to Dalymount Park on Friday (7.45pm).

The last time these two sides met in the league, Pat Fenlon’s men managed to overcome a fantastic first-half from Sligo Rovers and turned the game on its head allowing The Gypsies to claim the victory.

But the last time Sligo Rovers visited Dalymount Park was the FAI Ford Cup semi-final and that certainly lived up to all the hype surrounding it. The Bit O’Red emerged victorious and progressed to the final from there.

Pat Fenlon thinks of Sligo as one of the best footballing teams in the league and he will be slightly worried given the injuries facing his side. Aidan Price is suspended following his red card against Shamrock Rovers and Ollie Cahill is ruled out with a hamstring injury. Ger O’Brien is another doubt, as is Sligo native Mark Rossiter. Killian Brennan may be another absentee after he strained a thigh muscle when he was warming-up for the game against Douglas Hall.

Aside from all the absentees in the team, Bohemians may be missing Pat Fenlon himself who will be a huge loss. He has been out ill all week and is struggling to be fit to watch his side face the ‘Barcelona of the League of Ireland’.

Former Bohemian’s player Joseph Ndo will not be fit for Sligo. He has a calf problem and has not been training all week but Paul Cook has no other injury worries. Jason McGuinness returns to Dalymount for the first time since leaving Bohemians. Sligo’s record in Dublin this season is ringing alarm bells for Paul Cook: “Our record in Dublin this season has been disappointing to say the least. We’ve been giving away soft goals.”

“We gave away an early goal in UCD and then even earlier against St Pat’s. You will not win many games if you keep doing that. We have to be tighter and there’s no better place to change the bad run than in Dalymount Park. If we play well there is no doubt we can win the game and that’s what we’ll be trying to do.”

Sligo Rovers
Injured: Joseph Ndo (calf)
Doubtful: None
Suspended: None

Bohemians
Injured: Ollie Cahill (hamstring)
Doubtful: Ger O’Brien, Mark Rossiter (both hamstring), Killian Brennan (thigh)
Suspended: Aidan Price

Referee: Damien Hancock
Paddy Power Odds: Bohemians 2/1; Draw 11/5; Sligo Rovers 13/10
Extratime prediction: A 1-0 win for Sligo Rovers.