League Preview: Drogheda United -v- Bohemians

• Josh Dolan
• Thu, Sep 24 2015




DROGHEDA UNITED

The Boynesiders will be looking to continue their bid to avoid relegation when they host Bohemians at United Park on Friday night (kick off 7.45pm).
 

The Drogs have struggled for foirm in recent weeks, losing four of their last six games, one of which was last weeks 6-0 hammering at home to currently superior local rivals Dundalk.

 

Drogheda's interim boss Mark Kinsella tried to put some sort of positive spin on the devastating result ahead of Friday's game.
 

“We defended very well early on and it shows the quality that Dundalk have that they took their only real chance of the first half," said Kinsella, "and we could have equalised after the break with Alan Byrne’s header," 
 

As you would expect, Kinsella revealed that such an emphatic defeat in a local derby left his players with little to no confidence.  However, the interim Drogs boss is looking to rally his troops ahead of Friday night.
 

“The players’ confidence looked shot after that and the goals kept going in but we need to draw a line under it and move on," said Kinsella.

"It’s never nice to lose any game by such a margin especially a derby but there’s no point dwelling on it now."
 
Kinsella concluded by talking about the Drogs' run in, a run in which includes trips to Tallaght Stadium and Richmond Park, while the Boynesiders also host Cork City and fellow relegation battlers Longford Town.


 

“Given where we are in the table, the next game is always the biggest game of the season. It’s a difficult run-in that we have and we need to pick up results every time we go out on the pitch and tomorrow will be no different"

"Hopefully we can make our home advantage count and build some momentum for the next few games," Kinsella concluded.
 

United will be without Jason Marks following his sending off last week against Dundalk; while both Stephen Maher and Lee Duffy are doubts for the game with knee and throat issues respectively.




BOHEMIANS

Bohs boss Keith Long believes that his side must perform to the highest level in their five remaining Premier Division games of the current season out of respect for the league and the teams scraping for their Premier Division status.

The Gypsies lie fifth in the league table, six points behind St Patrick's Athletic, who have a game at hand in fourth and 11 points off Shamrock Rovers in third.

While it means this has been a very positive season for Bohemians, Keith Long's side find themselves with very little to play for heading into the last five games of the season.

“We have a responsibility to ourselves and to the club to put in a performance every time we cross the line. The players have been reminded of that this week," Long revealed.

“We have to show respect for the league too. Every club below us is scrapping for points and we’ve got to make sure we’re fully committed in each game."

Friday night's opponents Drogheda are one of those sides fighting for their lives and Long is bracing himself for a tough test on Friday after the wounded Drogs were thumped 6-0 at home to local rivals Dundalk last Friday night.

"I expect them to re-focus and be ready for Friday. They know that three points are so important in the battle against relegation,” Long said.

“They will have targeted this home game against us. But I can assure them we’ll be going there looking for a good performance and a win.”

Long will have to continue without the services of Derek Pender and Marc Griffin, who both are continuing to recover from long term injury. Dave Mulcahy is a doubt with an ankle problem, while Keith Bucley is suspended after being sent-off in last Friday night's 1-1 draw with Longford at Dalymount Park. 

 

Referee: Derek Tomney

 

MATCH STATS

You have to go back to the 22 May to find United’s last home Premier Division win. On that night, goals from Lee Duffy and Sean Thornton helped them to a 2-0 win over Galway United.

There have only been three occasions in the Premier Division this season where Bohemians have failed to score on the road: a 0-0 draw with Shamrock Rovers back in March, a repeat of that score-line, this time with Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds a month later, before a 4-0 thumping at the hands of Cork City in late July.

Drogheda have recorded just four clean sheets in this season’s Premier Division. 

 

BETTING

Drogheda United 21/10; Draw 23/10; Bohemians 5/4.

 

PREDICTION

Drogheda 0-1 Bohemians 

 

Drogheda United

Injured: None.

Doubtful: Lee Duffy, Stephen Maher.

Suspended: Jason Marks.

 

Bohemians

Injured: Derek Pennder, Marc Griffin.

Doubtful: Dave Mulcahy.

Suspended: Keith Buckley.