Although there was little between the sides, and as a fascinating clash of styles unfolded, 4-2-3-1 for the hosts versus a fluid 3-5-2 for the visitors, it was Bohs who created the first two half-chances.

The first came from a bit of pinball in the Pat’s area from a whipped Anto Breslin corner. But as the ball fell invitingly for Ross Tierney, the youngster just couldn’t make contact as he swung and the ball trickled into the arms of the on-loan Liverpool goalkeeper Vitezslav Jaros.

Bohs’ best avenue of a breakthrough looked to be from Liam Burt who looked a threat throughout, and was finding some good space on the left wing. He was slipped in behind the Saints backline from an Andy Lyons through ball.

The pacey Scotsman showed good feet to cut inside and smash a low drive through a cluster of legs that was well blocked and eventually scrambled wide for a corner kick.

Stephen O’Donnell’s St Pat’s have started the season well with an encouraging draw away at champions Shamrock Rovers, followed by an injury-time victory against Drogheda United, and they really should have broken the deadlock midway through the first half.

Some sloppy play at the back saw Rob Cornwall dispossessed on the edge of his own area but Robbie Benson, under pressure from the recovering Cornwall, dragged his effort just wide of Talbot’s far post.

St Pat’s began to dominate possession, with Coughlan and Mattie Smith looking a threat in behind and clever movement.

With little goalmouth threat as the hosts held their shape well, the Saints came armed with some clever corner routines, which could have paid dividends before the break but Lee Desmond was unable to direct his powerful header goalwards.

The second half started very much a case of copy and paste of the first, as both teams failed to wear each other down with the Inchicore side building well from the back.

Cornwall had a very good chance to give Bohs the lead with a free header at the back post, from another good Breslin delivery.

It took until just after the hour mark for one of the visitors’ smart set pieces to pay off, as Coughlan rose highest from Benson’s inswinging corner to power a header home past the helpless Talbot, who could only push the ball into the roof of the net. That’s two in two now for the ex-Sligo Rovers man.

Bohs finally sprung to life as the urgency in their play increased greatly, but they struggled to carve out that one clear-cut equalising opportunity, with Jaros making just one save throughout the 90 minutes.

The impressive visitors, with a midfield trio of Chris Forrester, Jamie Lennon and Benson just had too much guile and graft about them and saw out the game in excellent fashion to keep their unbeaten start to the season intact. The final whistle was met with a huge roar of relief from the travelling party as they find themselves joint top of the league

Bohs were left frustrated with their new-look attack still finding their feet. Up next is a trip to Oriel Park on Friday to face Dundalk.

Bohemians: James Talbot, Andy Lyons, Rob Cornwall, James Finnerty, Anto Breslin, Keith Buckley (c) (Thomas Oluwa 82), Ali Coote, Liam Burt, Dawson Devoy (Keith Ward 68), Ross Tierney, Georgie Kelly. Unused substitutes: Stephen McGuinness, Rory Feely, Ciaran Kelly, Bradley Rolt, Tyreke Wilson, Bastien Hery, Jack Moylan.
St Patrick’s Athletic: Vitezslav Jaros, John Mountney, Sam Bone, Lee Desmond, Ian Bermingham, Jamie Lennon, Chris Forrester, Robbie Benson, Darragh Burns (Paddy Barrett 73), Mattie Smith (Jason McClelland 88), Ronan Coughlan (Billy King 78). Unused substitutes: Barry Murphy, Josh Keeley, Kian Corbally, Ben McCormack, Alfie Lewis, Nehum Melvin-Lambert.
Referee: Neil Doyle