League Preview: Bohemians -v- Waterford

• Seán O'Connor
• Mon, Oct 25 2021




BOHEMIANS

Monday’s meeting is the second between the sides in four days, following last Friday’s dramatic FAI Cup Semi-Final.

The league’s top scorer returned to the starting XI after missing the Dublin Derby four days previous and Georgie Kelly missed a first half penalty before Kyle Ferguson was sent off just before the hour mark in front of a full capacity Dalymount Park.

However, the Jodi Stand shook on 89 minutes as Kelly got on the end of a Promise Omochere cross to book his side’s ticket to the final as he scored the only goal of the game.

The Gypsies now will quickly turn their attention to the league, where they currently sit fifth.

Bohs can guarantee European football next season by winning the FAI Cup next month, but Keith Long’s side won't want to leave anything up to chance. With six games remaining, Drogheda and Derry City are also fighting it out for a top four place.

Bohs have won just one of their last five league games but have the chance on Bank Holiday Monday to climb into fourth with a win at Dalymount.

“I thought it wasn’t coming, the game was dead," said Kelly about the match when talking to the Irish Independent after Friday’s game.

"I felt like we were going to regret those chances, missing that penalty. We should have put it to bed. I felt we dominated the game, we were the aggressors. I think they had one shot in the first half. So just to get it then and the scenes and just go like that, unbelievable, an unbelievable night.”

WATERFORD

Waterford arrive back at Dalymount Park in ninth place and will need to pick up some big results in their last six games if they are to avoid the relegation play off.

Finn Harps sit two points ahead of Waterford while Dundalk are three points ahead. Waterford do however have a game in hand on both and can overtake Harps with three points on Monday night. 

Marc Bircham’s side have lost just twice since August, with Friday’s semi-final defeat ending their hopes of winning their first FAI Cup in 41 years. They have won two, drawn two and lost one in their last five league games, and a win against The Gypsies will boost their hopes of staying up.

Looking ahead to the game, Marc Bircham spoke to the club's media saying  that “Friday was tough to take.”

“The penalty, the red cards and the offside goal were hard to take but we’ve got to get past that and look to the league. We need to make sure we’re focused on the league from now until the end of the season.

“It’s a quick turnaround so we got the lads in for recovery and the looked to Monday games. We have got suspensions and injuries, but we have got to get on with it.

“For home games we’ve seen massive crowds and to see our fans on Friday was brilliant too.”

Referee: Rob Hennesy

MATCH STATS

Bohemians top league scorer this season is Georgie Kelly on 19, while Waterford’s John Martin is on seven.

Waterford have kept one clean sheet in their last ten games, compared to Bohemians’ two.

This is both sides fourth league meeting this season. Bohemians won the first two games 1-0 and 3-0 before Waterford beat the Gypsies 1-0 In August.

BETTING

Bohemians 4/11; Draw 7/2; Waterford 6/1.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 2-1 Waterford

Bohemians

Injured: n/a

Doubtful: n/a

Suspended: n/a

Waterford

Injured: Prince Mutswunguma, Matthew Connor

Doubtful: n/a

Suspended: Niall O’Keefe, Brian Murphy, Kyle Ferguson.

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) October 25, 2021