Bohemians -v- Dundalk
- Alan Smith
- Fri, Oct 29 2010
Bohemians know that it is out of their hands but they will still need to defeat Dundalk at Dalymount Park tonight to withstand any chance of lifting yet another Premier Division title (kick-off 7.45pm).
After last week’s shock defeat away to bogey side Galway – their first defeat in 11 - Pat Fenlon’s men let arch-rivals Shamrock Rovers back into the reckoning and the Hoops duly provided from their point of view with a win over Drogheda United last weekend.
It means the Tallaght men need just a draw at Bray tonight to end up on top of the pile, so the odds are certainly stacked against Bohs, who face a Dundalk side with nothing to play for but pride.
Fenlon will be without a host of players for the final league game of the season. Hamstring injuries rule out Mark Rossiter and Jason McGuinness, long-term achilles injuries keep Anto Murphy and Steven Gray sidelined, while the duo of Chris O’Connor and Mark Quigley are suspended following recent red cards.
In terms of head-to-head performances against Dundalk, Bohs have won seven and drawn one out of the last nine, while five different players have scored against the Lilywhites so far this season: Mark Quigley, Paul Keegan, Paddy Madden, Ruaidhri Higgins and Gareth McGlynn.
Dundalk will have almost a full squad to choose from as Ian Foster’s outfit look for their first win at the Phisboro venue since 1993. Ross Gaynor misses out through suspension, while Daniel Kearns is a doubt. Garry Breen, however, is expected to return at the back after serving a one game ban last weekend.
Paddypower.com Odds: Bohemians 1/3, Draw 7/2, Dundalk 8/1.
Bohemians
Injured: Mark Rossiter, Jason McGuinness, Anto Murphy, Steven Gray
Doubtful: none
Suspended: Chris O’Connor, Mark Quigley
Dundalk
Injured: none
Doubtful: Daniel Kearns
Suspended: Ross Gaynor
Referee: D Hanney.
Extratime.ie Prediction: 2-0 to Bohs, but will it be good enough?.
About Alan Smith
Alan Smith works as a sub-editor for the Guardian newspaper in London. Originally from Cork, he freelances for several other newspapers and websites. Follow him on twitter @alansmith90.