Drogheda United -v- Bohemians

• P.J. Murray
• Thu, Mar 26 2009


A confident Bohemians side travel to face bottom of the table Drogheda United in Friday night's encounter at United Park (Kick off 7.45pm). Bohs are classed as overwhelming favourites for the game, however Drogheda have proved to be dogged at home having yet to taste defeat at United Park under Alan Mathews.

The Story So Far
Bohs are riding high with a win over bitter rivals Shamrock Rovers last week where as Drogheda are still stinging from a 3-0 drubbing handed to them by bitter local foes Dundalk. Despite the setback last week for Drogheda, they can take some solace in the fact that two of the three goals they conceded were from the penalty spot and on several occasions they were unlucky not to take the lead with some good attacking play.

Bohs have managed seven points from nine so far this season and they have the look of a team yet to hit top form, their win last week a serious indication of what they are capable of and if they are to retain their league crown it is against teams such as Drogheda that they will have to register comprehensive victories.

Fenlon's Views
“The Rovers win last week was a great result for us and it was a game that took care of itself, everyone was motivated for that, but we will have to keep that motivation going for Friday night,” said Bohs manager Pat Fenlon speaking to extratime.ie about Friday night’s challenge.
“I know Alan very well and he got the job very late and quickly put together a squad, but he is always difficult to play against and I know he will make it very tough for us.”

Bohs can count former Drogs duo Brian Shelly and Paul Keegan among their numbers and Fenlon feels that although they will obviously respect their previous club, they are Bohs players now and will do their job on the pitch.

The Dublin side find themselves in the surprising position of trailing Galway United, however, three points on Friday may place them above the Westerners.
“The start of the league always throws up one or two surprises and I suppose Galway is a surprise, but they are there on their own merits,” added the Gypsies manager

McNally's Views
Drogheda captain and key defensive player Alan McNally feels that Drogheda can expect to take at least a point from the Dublin side.
“We have only taken one point from the first three games and as soon as we can we want to get more points on the board. Any game at home this year we have to aim to get something from it,” said the former UCD player.

“Bohs are the league champions and they are a full time club so they are going to be extremely physical and fit and very sharp.”
Drogheda are a side who have set their stall out to be more defensive as they have only conceded two goals from open play so far and McNally feels if they keep a tight back four and press Bohs early that they may very well grind out a result.
McNally will be without defensive partner Conor Kenna who is suspended for the game but coming in as his replacement will be Ian Ryan.
“Ian preformed very well when he came in last week, and although we haven’t played much together I’m sure we can work well,” he added.

Drogheda have yet to score a solitary goal this season, however, the Drogheda captain feels that it is not through the lack of effort that they have yet to score.
“We dominated large parts of the game last week and we had a lot of efforts, we were just unlucky that none of them went in.
“At home we will create a lot more chances and the more you press and the more chances you create your bound to score at least one.”

Team News
Drogheda will be without the aforementioned Kenna who was sent off last week and former Bohs player John Paul Kelly is a slight injury worry, although he is expected to be fit to face his former team.

Pat Fenlon has to select his side minus several players, Neale Feane is out with a calf strain, while Drogheda native Killian Brennan has been ruled out along with Anto Murphy. Mark Rossiter is suspended for the game and is a big loss, but Owen Heary is back from injury and this is a boost to Fenlon's squad.

Extratime.ie prediction: 0-2