Dundalk -v- Bohemians

Bohemians make the trip up the M1 for the first time this season to face Dundalk at Oriel Park in week 9 of the League of Ireland season. (Kick off 7.45 p.m.).

 

DUNDALK
Dundalk go into Friday night’s game on the back of a highly impressive victory away to Derry City last weekend. Goals from Michael Rafter and Shane O’Neill gave the Lilywhites a priceless win and it was the perfect response to the previous week’s mauling the hand of the champions, Shamrock Rovers. The Louth club will be hoping to build on that victory as they look to pick up some much needed points in the weeks ahead.

Injuries have hit Sean McCaffrey’s side and this week he faces a real selection problem as he is missing both his first choice centre-halves – Liam Burns and Derek Foran. Captain Chris Shields, who filled in at centre-back for much of the game last weekend when Burns went off, misses out through suspension while Mark Griffin is still a few weeks away from a return. Hernany Macedo misses out once more as the club waits on his work permit application to come through.

McCaffrey however will be pleased by the performance of Luke Danville at centre-half last week and also the outstanding display of Peter Cherrie. If they can replicate this form, then it gives Dundalk a chance of victory. This week has also seen off the field matters dominate headlines as budget cuts are rumoured in the near future. It is believed that backroom staff and possibly playing staff will be let go however it is unclear what will happen. Dundalk fans will be hoping for a quick solution and hopeful that the players do not let this distraction affect them ahead of this week’s fixture.

Speaking to dundalkfc.com, McCaffrey is hoping his side can “kick into a bit of form” and is keen to pick up points in the weeks ahead.
 

“We have played eight games and six of those have been against the top six in the league and four of them away. That’s tough. Now, if we can kick into a bit of form, we have matches coming up that at the start of the season we would have fancied our chances of getting points out of. We need to do that now.
 

“They’re four games that we should be taking points out of but I don’t want to be putting pressure on the boys.”

 

BOHEMIANS
Bohemians go into the game on the back of a defeat to Monaghan United last weekend. The Gypsies have been on a good run of form of late and that defeat to Monaghan may have come to a surprise to some. After picking up their first victory of the season against Cork City three weeks ago, the Phibsboro side went on to beat UCD before succumbing to Monaghan United most recently.
 

For the trip to County Louth, Bohemians welcome back Dwayne Wilson from a family event in Australia but Karl Moore misses out as he dislocated his shoulder in a collision with Monaghan ‘keeper Chris Bennion last time out. Derek Pender is also likely to miss out due to a hamstring injury. There however no suspensions to worry about. The fringe players of the squad will again come into contention as Callaghan looks to steer his side to their second away victory of the season.

Bohemians do have a good recent record against Dundalk and their improvement over the past few weeks is encouraging. They will be aiming to prove that last weekend’s defeat was just a minor blip in their season and will be hoping to get back on track with a victory here. Something that is most certainly achievable if they can replicate their performances from a few weeks ago.

Speaking to bohemians.ie, manager Callaghan knows that his side were poor last weekend but is aiming to put that result behind them and pick up all three points at Oriel Park.

“We were just off the pace. Defensively we were poor for the two goals. The players know they are better than that. The lads didn’t perform to the level I know they can and have been showing. There will be a lot of strange results this season and there will be ups and downs for a lot of clubs.

“We’ve dusted ourselves down, done some really good work on the training ground and we’ll go to Dundalk to get a win”

Referee: Richie Winter.

MATCH STATS
Dundalk have won only two of their last eight home league meetings with Bohemians. That victory came in April 2010 when they bagged a late winner to win 1-0.

Bohemians have a good recent record at Oriel Park managing to secure victory on four of the last six occasions with one draw and one defeat.

Dundalk will be hoping to win back-to-back games for the first time since last June when they defeated Bray Wanderers and Galway United in successive weeks.

Bohemians will be looking for just their first win outside of Dublin since September when they beat Galway United 3-0.


BETTING

Dundalk 17/10; Draw 2/1; Bohemians 13/8.

PREDICTION

This one could go either way. Both sides need the points but a draw is the most likely outcome. 1-1
 

Dundalk injury news:  Derek Foran, Liam Burns and Mark Griffin.
Dundalk Suspension News:  Chris Shields.
Unavailable:  Hernany Macedo.
 

Bohemians injury news:  Karl Moore and Derek Pender.
Bohemians Suspension News:  None.