Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds says his side need to dust themselves down and dig deep for an important month ahead, starting with tomorrow’s Dublin derby away to league leaders Shelbourne at Tolka Park.

Reynolds’ side progressed to the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup away to Kerry on Sunday but needed extra time and penalties to do so after a frustrating 2-2 draw at Mounthawk Park.

On the back of disappointing league form, the performance and result in Tralee drew vocal criticism.

Reynolds admits his side are hurting but has challenged them to channel that hurt and dig deep to find the resolve they need to drag themselves back up the table.

Reynolds said: “Nobody from this club who travelled down to Kerry on Sunday, whether it be fans, staff or players, was satisfied with the performance, and it was a long trip home with plenty of soul-searching.

“The frustration of the supporters is shared by the players and staff, and the reality is the only positive we can take out of the game is the fact that we are in the next round.

“The result and performance, particularly after doing so well and digging so deep to beat Rovers in the previous round to get there in the first place, was nowhere near good enough and I can assure you that there is nobody shying away from that.

“We took the lead twice so to allow Kerry to peg us back twice instead of us kicking on just wasn’t good enough.

“As a group we have spoken at length about what we need to do to get back to where we want to be and we are working extremely hard to make things right.

“For me, the important thing for us now as a group and as a club now is how we react. We have to react well and we have to react fast.

“We have a big month ahead of us. As a club, we have to stick together and dig deep to get the right performances and results that will move us back up the table.

“We have three big Dublin derbies in the league over the next three weeks, and then a FAI Cup quarter-final. We don’t have the luxury of looking ahead to that because we need to get points on the board.

“We all understand the criticism we have received and have taken it on board. We have talented players but they are hurting, so this is a test of our resolve now, and as a group we all have to dig deep.

“What I will say is that we need to stick together as a club. We have made a lot of changes over the past couple of months but we all know that where we are right now is a long way off where we want to be.

“I just ask our fans to stick with us. We haven’t given them a lot to cheer about over the past few weeks so there is a lot of frustration there, and we never take their support for granted.

“But in all my years in the league, one of Bohs’ greatest strengths has always been that when Bohs teams have their backs against the wall, the supporters of the club get behind them and are the extra man they need to dig out the results.

“That’s where we are now. Our backs are against the wall but I believe we have a team who will come out fighting and give everything of themselves to put things right.

“I am around long enough to take criticism on the chin but our players need support and a lift, so I ask that our fans get right behind them between now and the end of the season.”

It doesn’t come much tougher than tomorrow’s fixture away to the league leaders at a sold-out Dublin derby, but Reynolds says his side are doubly determined to rise to the challenges ahead.

He added: “We are heading into a sold-out Tolka Park for a Dublin derby, and we are live on TV. These are the kind of games that any player wants to be a part of.

“Shels are going for a league title and the place will be hopping, and it is up to every single one of us on the pitch and in the stands to do everything we can to get a result down there. We’ve done it before this season and I believe we can do it again.

“We are all in this together, and in games like this, our strength is our unity and our fans can make the difference at a time when our players need a lift.

“The allocation for our fans has been reduced to 500 but that won’t matter for those who managed to get a ticket. There is no doubt in my mind that in the cauldron of a Dublin derby, that they will make themselves heard and get behind the lads from the first whistle to the last.”

Team news

Jordan Flores is rated as 50/50.

James McManus and Jake Carroll are close to returning to first-team action but this game will come too early for them.

Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.