Alan Reynolds says Bohemians’ performances in recent weeks are a cause of optimism but says they will have to improve even further to get past UCD in their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-final at the UCD Bowl tomorrow.

Bohs go into the game after what many fans feared would be a gruelling run of league fixtures, with home and away encounters against table toppers Shelbourne sandwiched either side of a Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers.

But Bohs shared the points with Shels on both occasions, and claimed all three at home to Rovers.

Reynolds’ side went into that run under pressure on the back of a bruising 3-2 home defeat against Waterford having led 2-0, and needed penalties to get past Kerry in their last-16 tie in the FAI Cup.

And that result in Tralee alone will have focused the minds ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Belfield to take on William O’Connor’s Students, who are flying high in the First Division in second place, eyeing promotion through the play-offs and who went to the Showgrounds and claimed a 2-0 win against Sligo Rovers in the last round.

Reynolds said: “We are pleased with our performances over the last number of weeks but there is nobody in there patting ourselves on the back.

“We still have a lot of work to do, and we were disappointed we couldn’t turn those draws against Shelbourne into wins because I think we are top in both.

“But they were very good performances, with a lot of good play and positives to take out of all three games, and I think that our supporters can see now what we are capable of and we are all working towards.

“This will be another difficult game though. We are coming up against a very good team in UCD, and we will have to improve our performances even further because they are a confident side, in good form and flying high in the First Division.

“They have excellent young players and they have experience there too. You only have to look at their result away to Sligo Rovers in the last round to see how good they are, so we have analysed them extensively, and we know we will have to respect them.

“They are at home, they will have looked back at our game against Kerry and will be looking at this game as another big opportunity for them, so it is up to us to be at the very top of our game.”

Reynolds will be without the suspended Dawson Devoy after he picked up yellow cards in both the previous rounds as the FAI today confirmed that the Independent Appeal Committee rejected Shamrock Rovers’ latest appeal regarding his eligibility for Bohs’ second-round win in July.

But Bohs will also be without midfielder Adam McDonnell and striker Filip Piszczek, who are both sidelined with ankle injuries, with Reynolds adding: “It’s disappointing for both of them. Adam has been a really important player for us over the last while, and he’s been really in form.

“He was forced off against Shels last week and the good news is that it is not as bad as it looked on the night, but he will still be out for a number of weeks, and it is a big blow for us losing a player of his quality.

“It’s very unfortunate for Filip too. He got a really important goal for us against Shamrock Rovers two weeks ago and he wanted to build on that but he took a knock to his ankle later in the game and unfortunately that is going to rule him out for a number of weeks now too.

“So we are missing important players in Dawson, Adam and Filip, and we need those who come into the team to step up to the challenge now. We’ve had a positive couple of weeks but we need to build on that.

“We’ll bring another massive crowd over with us for this game and everyone comes into the team, and everyone on the pitch and off it, knows how big this game is for us. We all have our part to play.”

Team news

Dawson Devoy is suspended, and Bohemians are also without Adam McDonnell and Filip Piszczek, who are both suffering with ankle injuries. Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

The Bohemians breakfast club had Dalymount Park rocking on Sunday morning and Alan Reynolds is hoping his side can build on that when they host Shelbourne at the more familiar time of 7.45pm on Friday night.

Sunday’s 11.30am kick-off saw Bohs claim the Dublin derby bragging rights when they came from behind to beat Shamrock Rovers 2-1 with goals from Ross Tierney and Filip Piszczek.

That win was a long time coming and the final whistle was met with delight and relief, but Bohs will have their work cut out to build on it when league leaders Shelbourne make the short trip from Drumcondra to provide the opposition at Dalymount Park.

The sides drew 1-1 at Tolka Park just a fortnight ago, with Reynolds’ men frustrated that they couldn’t find a winner.

But Reynolds expects Shels to come bursting out of the traps early at Dalymount tomorrow and said: “Listen, this is going to be a really tough test for us. Shelbourne are top of the league for a reason and I expect that they will come to Dalymount to have a real go at us.

“They are not going to come here to sit off, they’ll come and attack us, so we have to be ready for that.

“We have had a couple of really good performances now and we performed well against them two weeks ago but we will have to be better than that again because Shelbourne have real quality that can hurt you.”

After a difficult season in the league, the draw against Shelbourne and win against Rovers have been causes for optimism.

Reynolds said: “We have players who believe and buy in to what we are trying to do and what we are building towards.

“That hasn’t been easy when results were not going our way but I have to give credit to the group, they keep working harder and harder every week.

“They really wanted to give the fans something to cheer about on Sunday and obviously winning a Dublin derby has given everyone a lift, fans and players.

“That’s what we want every week – we want it to be a springboard for us between now and the end of the season so it’s important now that we continue to build and grow.

“But our players are flying in training, a derby win is the confidence boost and shot in the arm that we needed and one that I think our players deserved.

“We rode our luck at times but we grew into the game and we had our supporters behind us egging us on again, which is really important.

“The winner came from two substitutes too, which was pleasing as it shows that we have players who can come in and make a difference when games are in the balance.

“It was a massive goal for Filip, and he will want to build on that now, but it was a perfect cross into him from Jordan too, and it was great to have him back in the team.

“Those two are obviously champing at the bit to start now, and we have James Akintunde back this week too so we have options, and as a group there is a determination there and a belief in what we are trying to achieve.”

Team news

Martin Miller is away on international duty with Estonia, but James Akintunde returns from injury.

Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians gave a glimpse of what they are capable of last week and has challenged them to build on it tomorrow morning when they host Shamrock Rovers in the Dublin derby at Dalymount Park.

After a bruising couple of weeks where they surrendered a 2-0 lead to lose 3-2 to Waterford and needed penalties to scrape past Kerry in the FAI Cup, Reynolds’ men showed their mettle when they travelled to Tolka Park last Friday to take on league leaders Shelbourne.

They were frustrated that they could not find a winner despite long spells in the ascendancy but there were plenty of positives to take from the 1-1 draw.

Reynolds said: “We came out of last week’s game disappointed that we didn’t win it but very pleased with the performance.

“It was a great goal from Danny Grant to put us ahead but it was frustrating that we didn’t manage to hold onto our lead again.

“The most pleasing thing after that though was that we settled and didn’t allow our heads to drop. I felt that we really went after the game and we played some good stuff.

“Obviously the lads’ confidence had taken a knock after the manner of the cup game against Kerry and the defeat to Waterford.

“There is huge pressure playing the league leaders when heads are down a bit but we showed what we are capable of. We need to build on that fast but we can take confidence from how we performed.

“We had chances to win it but came up against a goalkeeper in form. If you look back on the game, there was only one team trying to win it in the end.”

But the fixture list doesn’t get any easier with another Dublin derby, this time at the unusual time of 11.30am on Sunday morning.

Reynolds added: “As I said last week, this is a very important period for the club. We are playing some of the top teams in the country over the course of the next month and it is vitally important for us to get points on the board.

“Our league form has been disappointing and we know how good Shamrock Rovers are so it is up to us to show how good we can be.

“The last time we played Rovers at Dalymount in the cup, the place was hopping and everyone was right behind the lads from start to finish, which helped get us over the line.

“Against a team as good as Rovers we will need that again, and I have no doubt we will as these games mean everything to everyone at the club whether you’re a fan or a player.

“I’ve no doubt our fans will have their alarm clocks set for early tomorrow to make sure they are in good voice in time for the early kick-off, and we all want to give them something to sing about.”

Team news

Jordan Flores is available for selection once more but Bohs are sweating on the fitness of Alex Greive and James Akintunde.

James McManus and Jake Carroll are close to returning, but Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

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.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians need to be clinical in defence and attack in what he expects to be a real battle against Waterford at Dalymount Park tonight.

A penalty from Dayle Rooney and an own goal had Bohs in the lead once more against Drogheda United last week but they had to settle for a 2-2 draw in the end.

Despite impressive passages of play and spells of dominance in recent games, Reynolds says his side need to start capitalising on them, and also tighten up at the back when they take the lead in games.

He said: “We know we need to be scoring more, and as I’ve said previously that is not just all on our forward players either. We need that edge in front of goal right across the team and be clinical when chances come our way to move up the table.

“We have to be stronger in defence too. We’ve taken the lead in both of our previous two league games so we are capable of hurting teams but when we have the lead we need to capitalise in attacking positions to push ahead further in games but also know how to defend our lead in the first place.

“There have been improvements in our performances but we need to turn those improvements into wins by being clinical in attack and clinical in defence.”

Reynolds faces his former club tonight as Keith Long returns to Dalymount Park once more in the opposition dugout.

Bohs have lost both home and away to Waterford this season, so Reynolds knows his side will face another tough game in Dalymount Park tonight.

He added: “We’ve worked really hard this week and we are looking forward to what we know is going to be a really tough game against Waterford.

“We watched a lot of Waterford and we know their strengths but they will know a lot about us too, so it should be a really good battle.

“Waterford have shown their qualities, and they were very good against Shamrock Rovers last week. But we have to look after ourselves and our own performances right across the team.”

Team news

Bohs are without Leigh Kavanagh after his red card against Drogheda United last week and are sweating on the fitness of Jordan Flores, Alex Greive and Archie Meekison. Rob Cornwall, James McManus and Keith Buckley remain out.