“I’m excited to see how we can perform against a team of Dundalk’s quality”
April 15, 2019
DUNDALK v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Monday April 15 2019, Oriel Park, 7,45pm
Bohemians’ good start to the season faces perhaps its toughest test yet tonight when we take on champions Dundalk at Oriel Park.
The Gypsies’ haul of 20 points from the opening nine games matches the club’s start in our last league-winning campaign of 2009.
Friday’s 1-0 win away to Finn Harps continued the encouraging run of form built on a mean defence – it was James Talbot’s seventh clean sheet.
It was also Bohs’ first win in Ballybofey since 2008.
While most of the intervening years have seen both clubs ply their trade in different divisions, there have been some notable frustrating nights in the north-west in recent years for Keith Long’s men – most notably the FAI Cup defeat in 2017 having led injury-time and a stoppage-time saved penalty a year previously.
READ MORE
But Bohs exorcised those demons with a professional performance against a gutsy Harps side.
Danny Grant netted the only goal of the game and, as revealed by skipper Derek Pender on social media later that night, was again the toast of his team-mates after his mother Julie made cupcakes for the team for their return trip.
Manager Keith Long said: ”The result made for a nice journey home… and the lads all enjoyed Danny Grant’s mam’s cakes too. They were very nice!
“The game wasn’t a great spectacle but we worked very hard to get the three points.
“Ultimately I felt we were in control of the game for the most part but Harps threw things at us in the last 10 minutes.
“We were unlucky not to go in 2-0 at the break and we had chances in the second half to increase our lead.”
If there were any criticisms to be made of Bohs’ performance, it was their inability to take the chances on offer that ought to have increased the winning margin.
Against Dundalk, they are unlikely to be able afford to pass up such opportunities in front of goal.
They face a Lilywhites side who have lost two games in a row for the first time since 2016. They haven’t lost three on the bounce since 2012.
Long said: “Irrespective of Dundalk’s current form, Oriel Park is a very hard place to go to. They are league and cup champions for a reason.
“I can’t remember the last time Dundalk lost twice in a row so they will want to right that.
“But we have done well in recent weeks so we will go up confident and we will have strong belief in ourselves.
“We need to put in a very good performance to get anything from the game. If we can do that, we’ll see where that takes us.
“It’s a big test for us but I’m excited to see how we can perform against a team of Dundalk’s quality.”
TEAM NEWS
Rob Cornwall returns from suspension. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains out.
