BOHEMIANS
Bohemians host Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount Park (kick-off 7.45pm), as the first Dublin Derby of the season takes place at an important juncture for both teams. Keith Long's men have found some form and come into this game with belief they can win.
Long got the performance and result he called for last week as the Gypsies beat Bray 2-0 away from home. The players have begun to get the season back on track after a shakey start and Keith Long will be quietly confident Bohs can come away with a result.
"Our results have improved,” Long told the club's website.
“It was important that we settled as we had an indifferent start to the season. Bray was always going to be a tough game and it took us a while to get into it. But when we got going,
“I thought we put in a very solid and professional performance. We’ve back-to-back victories in the league now – including our first away from home – and kept a clean sheet in both, so our confidence is good."
Long is fully aware of how important the Dublin Derby is for the fans and he also believes his players are fully aware too. Bohs recent successes in this fixture perhaps give them an advantage, but Long is not taking that for granted one bit.
“Our record in previous games against Rovers doesn’t come into it and the clubs’ positions in the table counts for nothing coming into a derby either.
“These games are tight, tense and have often been decided on a mistake or sometimes on who wants it more. I’ve no doubt it will be a keenly-contested affair as always.”
Long must plan without Jason Caffrey, while both Mark Quigley and Jake Kelly are doubts. The experienced and versatile leader Dave Mulcahy is available again, and may have a part to play in the game.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Rovers came away from the Brandywell shell-shocked and well beaten by Kenny Shiels' side on Friday. Pat Fenlon didn't attempt to protect his players but instead explained how disappointed he was by his team's collective performance, admitting Derry were the better team in doing so.
“We just didn't show enough guts and enough character, simple as that,” he said.
“Derry outmuscled us and outfought us and were first to every ball. We didn't show enough to be able to deal with that. That's one thing that should be given in any team.”
One would expect that the players at Shamrock Rovers will have got the message and will be fully expected to put in a much better performance in this derby game, and really it is absolutely necessary given the opponents.
Another poor performane could have big consequences for this Rovers team, while a good result and performance could do the opposite and push Rovers back into title contention again. The stakes are quite high for Fenlon and he knows how important it will be to get a result at his old employers.
Fenlon must do without left back Luke Byrne and attacker Dean Clarke once again for this away trip. In good news for Fenlon, he is able to call upon Trevor Clarke and Gary Shaw's services again, after they both missed out against Derry City.
Referee: Paul McLaughlin.
MATCH STATS
In the three meetings between the clubs last season, Bohs won the only tie at Dalymount Park 3-1. Kieran Marty Waters gave Rovers an early lead, but three goals in the final fifteen minutes, one from Derek Prendergast and two from super sub Dean Kelly gave Bohs all three points. The other two ties in Tallaght saw the sides inseperable.
The Gypsies are unbeaten in six games against Shamrock Rovers. That victory came at Dalymount Park at the very beginning of the 2014 season. Bohs have won 4 of the previous 11 league matches between the teams, including the famous 4-0 drubbing of Stephen Kenny's Rovers team in 2012.
Bohs are unbeaten in three league games so far this season – including two wins and a draw. Shamrock Rovers suffered their first away defeat of the season last week against Derry City, but otherwise have won their other two away league fixtures.
BETTING
Home 19/10; Draw 2/1; Away 6/4.
PREDICTION
Bohemian 1 – 1 Shamrock Rovers
Bohemian
Injured: Jason Caffrey (hamstring).
Doubtful: Mark Quigley (quad), Jake Kelly (virus).
Suspended: None.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Luke Byrne, Dean Clarke.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
League Preview: Dundalk -v- Sligo Rovers
DUNDALK FC
Champions Dundalk will entertain Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park on Friday night looking to record their first home win in all competitions since they defeated Finn Harps 3-0 over a month ago.
The Lilywhites looked slick and potent when easily despatching a beleaguered Longford Town side in the midlands last Saturday evening by four goals to nil. Ronan Finn’s first hat-trick for the club accompanied Brian Gartland’s powerful header, which marked Dundalk’s 1,000th Premier Division goal sealed a facile victory over Tony Cousins’ men.
The significant margin of the victory means that Stephen Kenny’s men top the Premier Division table ahead of Kenny Shiels’ Derry City, a position they are well acquainted with having secured back-to-back league titles.
However, Dundalk’s inconsistent home form this season, which include a win, a draw and a defeat may cause manager Stephen Kenny some concern ahead of the visit of the Westerners, who themselves secured a league draw in Oriel Park last September following Alan Keane’s stunning second half equaliser.
Ahead of tomorrow night’s match, Stephen Kenny stressed the need for his side to earn the win, acknowledging the positive results that the Bit O’ Red have gained recently.
“Sligo have got two decent results in the past few weeks with the draws against Pat’s and Cork so we know that we will have to earn the win, we have to earn the three points and we’ll be ready for the game.”
Dundalk will be without recent additions Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson, as well as young striker Ciaran O’Connor who suffered a broken metatarsal in last weekend’s match, for tomorrow’s game. However, Chris Shields returns to the squad following his one-match suspension.
Former Sligo Rovers league winner and current Dundalk FC ‘keeper Gary Rogers too stressed the difficulty of Friday’s visit of Sligo. “I got to look at Sligo last week and they were very good, very lively against Pat’s They’ll come here with a game plan and set up to get something.”
SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo Rovers manager Dave Robertson has been pleased with his side’s recent improvement in performances and results following draws with both, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City in consecutive outings.
The former Peterborough United manager has also insisted that his side will have to continue to produce such performances if they are to avoid a relegation struggle and elevate themselves towards the top-half of the Premier Division standings.
“We will definitely go there with confidence; we have been happy with our performances in the last two games. We have set the standards now for ourselves in the last fortnight and that is what we have to maintain tomorrow and all season. We have done plenty of homework on Dundalk. I have watched them three times myself and we know exactly what to expect from them. We will also be prepared to deal with any tactical changes they may make on the night,” Robertson said.
However, the fact remains that the Bit O’ Red are only off the foot of the table on goal difference from Bray Wanderers and Longford Town, and are without a league win all season despite picking up points from four of their first seven league matches.
A major factor in their failure to pick up three points from a league encounter this season is their seeming inability to score goals. Indeed, they are the league lowest goal scorers, having registered only four league finishes all season.
Robertson remains optimistic though regarding his striking options and is excited about Friday night’s trip east to the home of the champions. “I think it is mainly about getting a bit of confidence. Technically we have excellent finishers at the club; all our centre forwards are good finishers. I have just been telling them they need to show more confidence and be more instinctive in front of goal.”
“I am excited to be up against this team (Dundalk FC). They have been consistently strong for a good number of years. Tactically we have a good idea of how we want the game to go. It is a game that I am looking forward to and I think will be a good match to watch.”
Referee: Ben Connolly
MATCH STATS
Friday night’s match will be the 221st meeting between the sides in all competitions. The current standings are: Dundalk 100 wins; Drawn 50; Sligo 70 wins.
There hasn’t been a scoreless draw between the sides in a Premier Division match at Oriel Park since 1964. Although, the sides did draw a game at the venue in the First Division almost ten years ago.
While Sligo don’t boast any former Dundalk players within their team, four current Lilywhites, Darren Meenan, Daryl Horgan, Gary Rogers and David McMillan will face their former employer’s tomorrow night.
MATCH BETTING
Dundalk FC 1/4; Draw 9/2; Sligo Rovers 12/1
PREDICTION
Dundalk FC 2-0 Sligo Rovers
DUNDALK FC
Injuries: Robbie Benson (ankle), Patrick McEleney (groin) & Ciaran O’Connor (foot)
Doubtful: Unknown
Suspended: None
SLIGO ROVERS
Injuries: None
Doubtful: Tim Clancy & Gavin Peers
Suspension: NoneDUNDALK FC
Champions Dundalk will entertain Sligo Rovers at Oriel Park on Friday night looking to record their first home win in all competitions since they defeated Finn Harps 3-0 over a month ago.
The Lilywhites looked slick and potent when easily despatching a beleaguered Longford Town side in the midlands last Saturday evening by four goals to nil. Ronan Finn’s first hat-trick for the club accompanied Brian Gartland’s powerful header, which marked Dundalk’s 1,000th Premier Division goal sealed a facile victory over Tony Cousins’ men.
The significant margin of the victory means that Stephen Kenny’s men top the Premier Division table ahead of Kenny Shiels’ Derry City, a position they are well acquainted with having secured back-to-back league titles.
However, Dundalk’s inconsistent home form this season, which include a win, a draw and a defeat may cause manager Stephen Kenny some concern ahead of the visit of the Westerners, who themselves secured a league draw in Oriel Park last September following Alan Keane’s stunning second half equaliser.
Ahead of tomorrow night’s match, Stephen Kenny stressed the need for his side to earn the win, acknowledging the positive results that the Bit O’ Red have gained recently.
“Sligo have got two decent results in the past few weeks with the draws against Pat’s and Cork so we know that we will have to earn the win, we have to earn the three points and we’ll be ready for the game.”
Dundalk will be without recent additions Patrick McEleney and Robbie Benson, as well as young striker Ciaran O’Connor who suffered a broken metatarsal in last weekend’s match, for tomorrow’s game. However, Chris Shields returns to the squad following his one-match suspension.
Former Sligo Rovers league winner and current Dundalk FC ‘keeper Gary Rogers too stressed the difficulty of Friday’s visit of Sligo. “I got to look at Sligo last week and they were very good, very lively against Pat’s They’ll come here with a game plan and set up to get something.”
SLIGO ROVERS
Sligo Rovers manager Dave Robertson has been pleased with his side’s recent improvement in performances and results following draws with both, St. Patrick’s Athletic and Cork City in consecutive outings.
The former Peterborough United manager has also insisted that his side will have to continue to produce such performances if they are to avoid a relegation struggle and elevate themselves towards the top-half of the Premier Division standings.
“We will definitely go there with confidence; we have been happy with our performances in the last two games. We have set the standards now for ourselves in the last fortnight and that is what we have to maintain tomorrow and all season. We have done plenty of homework on Dundalk. I have watched them three times myself and we know exactly what to expect from them. We will also be prepared to deal with any tactical changes they may make on the night,” Robertson said.
However, the fact remains that the Bit O’ Red are only off the foot of the table on goal difference from Bray Wanderers and Longford Town, and are without a league win all season despite picking up points from four of their first seven league matches.
A major factor in their failure to pick up three points from a league encounter this season is their seeming inability to score goals. Indeed, they are the league lowest goal scorers, having registered only four league finishes all season.
Robertson remains optimistic though regarding his striking options and is excited about Friday night’s trip east to the home of the champions. “I think it is mainly about getting a bit of confidence. Technically we have excellent finishers at the club; all our centre forwards are good finishers. I have just been telling them they need to show more confidence and be more instinctive in front of goal.”
“I am excited to be up against this team (Dundalk FC). They have been consistently strong for a good number of years. Tactically we have a good idea of how we want the game to go. It is a game that I am looking forward to and I think will be a good match to watch.”
Referee: Ben Connolly
MATCH STATS
Friday night’s match will be the 221st meeting between the sides in all competitions. The current standings are: Dundalk 100 wins; Drawn 50; Sligo 70 wins.
There hasn’t been a scoreless draw between the sides in a Premier Division match at Oriel Park since 1964. Although, the sides did draw a game at the venue in the First Division almost ten years ago.
While Sligo don’t boast any former Dundalk players within their team, four current Lilywhites, Darren Meenan, Daryl Horgan, Gary Rogers and David McMillan will face their former employer’s tomorrow night.
MATCH BETTING
Dundalk FC 1/4; Draw 9/2; Sligo Rovers 12/1
PREDICTION
Dundalk FC 2-0 Sligo Rovers
DUNDALK FC
Injuries: Robbie Benson (ankle), Patrick McEleney (groin) & Ciaran O’Connor (foot)
Doubtful: Unknown
Suspended: None
SLIGO ROVERS
Injuries: None
Doubtful: Tim Clancy & Gavin Peers
Suspension: None
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