Alan Reynolds’ new-look Bohemians gave a glimpse of what they are capable of last week but he says they need to keep building to keep Dalymount rocking.

After a frustrating season in the league so far, few gave Bohs much of a chance heading into last week’s Sports Direct FAI Men’s Cup tie against Shamrock Rovers last week.

But they gave their best performance of Reynolds’ reign so far in front of a noisy and jubilant home crowd as they dumped their rivals out of the cup, with a trip to Kerry to look forward to next month as a result.

As well as scenes of celebration, there was also a sense of relief after a long-awaited win against Rovers, but Reynolds is not resting on his laurels and says his side now need to knuckle down and build on that result and performance, and move up the league table.

He said: “I know that it might sound strange given our form in the league but I wasn’t all that surprised by the result or the performance.

“I felt we have improved a lot in recent weeks and can see the progress being made and the determination of the squad in training as well as the lift the new players who have come in have given the group.

“There was obviously huge frustration among the players at our previous week’s defeat to Sligo Rovers but having analysed that game, we did create a lot of chances and didn’t get the rub of the green that we might have on another night to win the game.

“But I believe we had been improving, and the players were able to channel that frustration into doing everything we needed to do to beat Rovers last week.

“That was important for the group and for me I was extremely pleased for the players because there’s no doubt that their confidence has taken a knock over the past while.

“So for them to deliver a result and performance like that when confidence was low, they all to a man deserved the result and the reception they got from our fans after the game. It was an important marker to show what they are capable of and was the kind of performance we want to deliver consistently.

“We all know it has been a frustrating period for fans and players, nobody can deny that. But it was important for our players, particularly the new players and the younger members of the team, to see how great nights can be at Dalymount Park when we are all pulling in the same direction.

“Dalymount was rocking – absolutely hopping – and our players have seen now what we need to do to keep that going.

“So the result last week was very important in terms of giving the club a lift and showing where we want to go.

“But last week is very much in the past now. The important thing and challenge for all of us is that we keep building on it. It needs to spur us on to have more nights like that.

“That has to be the aim, but we know we have plenty of work to do to make it happen. We need to be able to play under that pressure and expectation, and we need to encourage our young players to improve and push on.”

Focus now turns to improving the club’s league form, starting tomorrow night when Dundalk are the visitors to Dalymount Park.

Reynolds said: “Dundalk are a team in transition, a bit like ourselves. Jon Daly is looking to put his own stamp on things like I am myself and he has made changes.

“They have players capable of hurting us, and like us they need results. We will respect them but again the most important thing for us is getting our own game right and focusing on what we can do.”

Frustratingly, Bohs will be without prodigal son Dawson Devoy after an EFL Cup suspension from December was carried over to the League of Ireland when he rejoined Bohs last week.

Reynolds added: “It’s a strange rule and Dawson will be frustrated to miss this one as he wants to be playing but we have a stronger squad now with everyone wanting to play, so it’s a chance for whoever comes in to assert themselves.”

Team news

Bohemians are without the suspended Dawson Devoy, but Brian McManus returns from injury.

Jake Carroll, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.