League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Bohemians

• Patrick O'Connor
• Thu, Aug 31 2023




SHAMROCK ROVERS

A potential season defining Dublin derby takes place at Tallaght Stadium on Friday night when Shamrock Rovers host Bohemians in the 29^th game of the 36-game Premier Division campaign.

Shamrock Rovers have three teams chasing them hard for the Premier Division title but they have a habit of winning the really decisive ties when it matters most and they don’t come any more decisive than the clash with rivals Bohemians this Friday night (kick-off 7.45pm live on Virgin Media TV).

The Gypsies, along with St Patrick;s Athletic and Derry City, still have a realistic chance of annexing the title but to do so they will need Rovers to slip up sometime in the crucial last two months of the season.

The Hoops currently are ahead of Pats by four points and the other two teams by seven points (Derry do also have one game in hand), so the title is theirs to lose at this stage.

They have only lost four league games all season enroute to collecting 54 points, and with the advantage of fortress Tallaght Stadium (where they have lost twice in the league this campaign) they will be favourites to maintain their current good form when they face Bohs this weekend.

They had a narrow but deserved 1-0 win against Dundalk in Tallaght Stadium last Friday night, Roberto Lopes’s 62^nd minute goal the difference between the two sides – that gave Rovers their fifth consecutive league win in Dublin 24.

They now face two of their challengers over the next two weekends, with Derry City away next up on September 15^th, so the destination of the title should be a lot clearer by mid-September.

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley spoke to the club’s media team this week and said: “I imagine it will be another really good game. I’ve said throughout the year that their attacking players are really strong, and they cause everyone problems, so we know their qualities.

“But we also know we can hurt them, throw a Dublin Derby in the mix, Bohs v Rovers is always going to be a tough game, a really competitive game but I also think there’ll be a lot of quality on show as well. So, it has all the makings to be a really good game and a great advertisement for the league.”

On the injury front, Bradley gave an update saying” “Liam Burt took a bad knock in the Dundalk game, and we tried to see would it ease as the second half began, but it didn’t so we took him out. But he’s doing better this week.

"Everyone else is fine again, bar Jack Byrne who is probably another week to ten days away. He’s doing well in terms of his fitness work; the injury has been slower than we hoped obviously but he’s getting there.”

BOHEMIANS

Bohs will relish the timing of their derby clash with Shamrock Rovers as it comes at the end of an eight-game streak of great form which saw them win five and draw three games in both the league and FAI Cup.

Their league form in particular has been excellent and it has seen them become genuine title challengers with only seven points separating them from table toppers Rovers.

To win at Tallaght Stadium would certainly throw the title race wide open and given their performance against Rovers in June, the Gypsies will hold no fears when they run out onto the lush turf at Whitestown Way on Friday night.

They are also unbeaten against the other top three sides in the league over the last two months, albeit that they also failed to beat Rovers, St Patrick’s Athletic and Derry City in those clashes.

Their most recent test was against Derry City, with whom they share third spot on 47 points (Derry have a better goal difference and a game in hand), and they came from 2-1 down in that game to draw 2-2 thanks to 53^rd minute penalty from Jonathon Afolabi.

Bohs manager Declan Devine was full of confidence and self-belief when he spoke to the Bohemians media team in advance of the game.

He said: “We are looking forward to the game. It hasn’t been over-hyped and we have prepared in the same way as we have for our last seven or eight games, which thankfully have gone well for us.

“It is pleasing that we have had the experience of the last few weeks of playing two really high-level games of St Pat’s in Inchicore and Derry in Dalymount.

“Now we go to Tallaght again in front of the cameras. We have been fortunate that our players have played in front of big crowds all year, so that shouldn’t frighten us. We have also been involved in a lot of TV games this year, so that shouldn’t frighten us either.

“Our fans this year have travelled the length and breadth of Ireland to support and back us. The noise levels that they have generated, and the togetherness that we feel between the squad and the fans, is something that we should continue to try and build.

“It doesn’t matter if we are going to Tallaght or Dalymount, I want the fans to get right behind the team in both good moments and difficult moments, and for that to support to translate onto the pitch. If we continue to do that, the sky’s the limit for this group.”

Referee: Rob Hennessy

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers have picked up seven out of a maximum nine points in the three clashes between these sides in the 2023 season. Bohs haven’t won in Tallaght for four seasons – losing six and drawing one in their winless seven game run against Rovers.

The Hoops won 2-0 in both the first home and away fixtures and then drew 2-2 in the third game in Dalymount Park. Rovers did lead that game by 2-0 through goals from Neil Farrugia and Markus Poom but they were pegged back by goals from Jonathon Afolabi and James Clarke.

Over 81, 000 fans have attended Shamrock Rovers’ home games this season, an average of 5,826 per game, and their 8,000-capacity stadium is expected to be sold out again for this mouth -watering clash on Friday night.

BETTING

Shamrock Rovers 4/6; Draw 27/10; Bohemians 7/2

PREDICTION

Shamrocks 2 - 1 Bohemians

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Jack Byrne

Doubtful: Liam Burt

Suspended: None

 

Bohemians 

Injured:  None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

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