Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Drogheda United -v- Bohemians
- P.J. Murray
- Thu, Mar 18 2010
Bohemians have the honour of being the first away side to grace the newly named Hunky Dorys Park on Friday night when they make the trip up the M-1 to face Drogheda United on Friday night (kick off 7.45pm)
Trips to Drogheda have often been very close affair for the Dubliners. They required five minutes of stoppage time in their second visit to Drogheda last season to scrape a one all draw.
Team News
Drogheda will welcome Robbie Martin back to the side after the midfielder was ruled out last week after picking up a knock. Also coming back into the squad are Eric McGill and Paul Crowley, while Michael Daly is suspended for the clash after being dismissed in Oriel. Corrie Tracey is ruled out for the Boynesiders after being injured in the Dundalk game. Bohemians will travel without the services of Jason McGuinness. Fenlon may also be without the defensive duo of Brian Shelly and Stephen Gray who are currently rated as doubts.
Manager Quotes
“I know Drogheda got spanked on the first day by UCD but they improved drastically going to Dundalk and got a decent point, even though they should have got all the points," Fenlon said. "Alan’s (Matthews) teams are always hard to play against and hard to beat.
"The pitch in Drogheda is tight and compact. It’s a tough game but all games are tough. People think because we’re Bohs and we’re champions that we should go everywhere and win but it’s not like that.”
While speaking to the Drogheda Independent Alan Mathews was more pragmatic about the upcoming fixture, the Drogheda manager said “Bohs are the best team in the league. It's important we press them when we don't have the ball, and when we do we need to keep it well and get shots on goal. We're not geared to sit in and invite teams onto us and hit them on the break.”
His side will feel somewhat aggrieved about the manner in which they succumbed a two-nil lead away to Dundalk. 'The sendingoff had a huge impact because they scored straight after it, and I think Daly was very harshly treated. A commonsense approach would've ensured he stayed on the pitch.
“We were disappointed with our performance against UCD, but the players took responsibility and responded.
“We had a positive attitude from the off and showed we are capable of being a lot better than we showed previously, and our attitude from start to finish was spot on,” concluded the manager.
Current Form
Drogheda were thought a lesson on the opening day by UCD, but it is one the Boynesiders learned from as they battled well against local rivals Dundalk last week and their performance will no doubt inspire some confidence in the squad.
Bohs found themselves a goal down in the Belfield Bowl on Tuesday night but the Gypsies took the lead from a blistering 30 second brace and are so far are looking comfortable this season.
Drogheda United
Doubtful: None
Injured: Corrie Tracey
Suspended:Michael Daly
Bohemians
Doubtful: Brian Shelley, Stephen Gray
Injured: Jason McGuinness
Suspended:None
Venue: Hunky Dorys Park
Referee: N. Doyle
paddypower.com odds: Drogheda United 5/1 Draw 5/2 Bohemians 4/7
Extratime.ie Prediction: Bohemians to continue their 100% record, 0-2.
About P.J. Murray
P.J. generally covers Drogheda games at HD Park and can generally be found at any Dublin ground when of a loose end on a Friday night.