While Sligo Rovers have been going through a rough patch, Long still expects a tough game from the Bit O’Red, now managed by former Bohs man Joseph Ndo.

“They’re in a state of flux at the moment, but they’re a full-time team and they have lots of good players. If we’re not on our guard, it could be a difficult night for us,” said Long.

“Joey was one of the great technicians of the League of Ireland, and I have no doubt that he’ll try and play a brand of football that he’s accustomed to.”

At the beginning of the season, many pundits would not have been surprised if the current league positions (5th & 10th) of the two teams was reversed. But the Bohs manager welcomes the new-found expectations that his side’s form has heralded.

“That expectation is there now, and we’ve got to handle that and embrace it. We recognise that the players have done a decent job so far, but we can’t take our foot off the pedal in any way,” said Long.

“The League table doesn’t lie at this stage of the season, we want to kick on, get as many points as we can, and try and finish as high up the table as we can.”

The Gypsies have collected more points on their travels than at Dalymount Park this season, and Long is looking for his side to take the game to the opposition when on home turf.

“It’s a home game. The onus is on us, irrespective of who we’re playing. We’re expected to win, and we want the players to embrace that challenge.”

Bohs will be without the suspended Lorcan Fitzgerald, while Jake Hyland is almost certain to miss out with a groin injury.

Jason Byrne and Dylan Hayes are back in contention after run outs in a friendly against Everton Under 21s on Wednesday. Derek Pender (achilles), Marc Griffin (cruciate) and Dan Byrne (knee) remain on the longer-term injury list.

Tony Cousins’ side should pose a significant test for Long’s men, who ran out 2-0 winners when the teams met at Dalymount Park in April. “Going to Longford is not going to be easy. They’ve come up from the First Division with a very experienced squad of players,” said Long. “They’ve done extremely well so far this season, but they’ll equally be looking for a win having lost their last couple of games.”

With the four teams above the Gypsies in the table involved in European action over the next few weeks, Bohs have an opportunity to pick up points on the full-time sides above them. “It’s an opportunity to get points on the board, so let’s see how the league table looks after the weekend ,” said Long.

“It does help that we don’t have the distractions of Europe – and we’d like to be in that position this time next year. We’re ambitious, but we have to be realistic about our ambitions too.”

Despite their excellent start to the season, Long insists that his side are still taking it one game at a time. “You can’t look past the next game. If you do that, and get ahead of yourself, you can come unstuck. The second series of games is notoriously difficult – teams have a better understanding of your strengths and weaknesses and are therefore better prepared.”

Bohs hosted recently-promoted Scottish Premier League side Hearts in a friendly game on Wednesday night and Long was happy to give some returning players and young players game-time against quality opposition. “I thought it was a good exercise, and I thought we played very well,” said Long.

“It was good to get decent game time for some players and it was a good run out for some members of our Under 19 squad. They did themselves no harm in terms of their performance.”

Bohs will be without Dylan Hayes (back), while the Longford game will be too soon for Jason Byrne (calf), who only returned to training this week. Stephen Best suffered a gash on the head in the game against Hearts, but should be fit to be part of the squad in Longford. Derek Pender (achilles), Dan Byrne (knee) and Marc Griffin (cruciate) remain on the longer-term injury list.

Long expects a very competitive game as Drogheda United look to move up the table. Last April in Drogheda Bohemians came away with a 2-1 win, thanks to a late goal from sub Marc Griffin.

Eight yellow cards were handed out that evening, including two in quick succession for ex-Drogheda player Derek Prendergast. Bohemians played 70 minutes with ten men, showing the grit that has become their trade-mark this season.

Long believes Drogheda may come to Dalymount feeling “a little aggrieved” at that result and wanting to “take something from the game”.

“I have seen them play a few times this year away from home and they’re organised, difficult to break down and can exploit on the counter-attack,” he said.

The season-break has given time for Robbie Creevy (groin) to recover fully and for Paddy Kavanagh (knee) to get back into training, though he is likely to be out until next week. Kealan Dillon had tonsillitis during the break but is fit again.

Still out are the longer-term injured, Derek Pender, Dan Byrne and Marc Griffin, and Jason Byrne will be out for a few weeks with a calf strain, while Dylan Hayes (back) is also sidelined.

Dave Mulcahy and Anto Murphy benefited from the week off to regain full fitness, having returned from injury to play key roles in the win over Shamrock Rovers.

“They’re experienced players, they’ve been around the league a long time and they know what it takes to win games like that,” said Long. “They were pivotal in that win.”

“We’re not in bad form because of one defeat. We have put Tuesday’s loss behind us, and I expect the players to put in a big performance on Friday night against out fiercest rivals,” he said.

“It’s a quick turn-around and we can’t dwell on the Pat’s result. In training, the lads have been bright and breezy and cannot wait for Friday’s game.”

Long considers that the big demand of the schedule on a part-time squad, the injuries in the squad, and St Patrick’s Athletic finding their best form all contributed to Tuesday’s loss.

“Overall, we’ve got to be positive. We put in a great performance up in Dundalk, not so good on Tuesday. But you have to give credit to Pat’s as well, who are a very good side and who have found their rhythm of late.”

Rovers come to this game after high-scoring victories at home against Derry City and Sligo Rovers in the past week.

“They’ll be full of confidence coming to Dalymount Park, and wanting the win. But from our perspective, we’ve got to make sure our players want it more than they do. It can come down to that in a derby game,” said Long.

“Friday’s is a massive game for us, one we’ve been looking forward to all season and the players will need no motivation for it.”

Long expects to have Dave Mulcahy back, having missed Tuesday’s game with a calf injury, and possibly Anto Murphy (ankle). Stephen Best, who got a kick in the head against Dundalk, will be available for Friday. But Robbie Creevy who was subbed in the first half against St Patrick’s Athletic is likely to be out with a groin injury.

Longer-term absentee Paddy Kavanagh (knee) will be sidelined until after the summer break, and Dan Byrne has had a set-back in his return to action. He came on as a sub in the FAI Cup match against Firhouse Celtic two weeks ago after a long absence with cruciate injury. But he is out again, probably for a month, with a knee cartilage problem.

Marc Griffin (cruciate) and Derek Pender (Achilles) remain on the long-term injury list.

The manager was delighted to see a return to top form for his team, who are now just one victory away from matching their win tally from the 2014 season, with less than half of this campaign gone. “I think Friday was a real return to what we’re about. The lads went out and worked extremely hard for each other,” said Long.

“That’s the foundation for everything we do. If we work hard and we’re honest, we’ve got a chance. The players recognise what they need to do to win football matches, and I think we’ve shown that we’re more than a match for any team in this league.”

With that result in the bag, Bohs can look forward without fear to games against the teams directly below and above them in the table this week.

“It’s going to be a difficult task, but we’ll go to inchicore in a good frame of mind. I don’t think any team holds any fear for us. Obviously, we’ve great respect for St Pat’s, but it’s not about them from our point of view,” said Long. “We’ll be going there to have a go, as we have done in all the games so far.”

The Bohs boss knows that Liam Buckley’s side are a threat, with the Saints having won in Dalymount Park earlier in the season. “Pat’s are a good footballing side, they can punish you in a lot of areas. We’ve got to try and put in a good performance, and if we play close to how we did on Friday, we’ve got a great chance.”

Long will have to plan without Stephen Best after the defender suffered a head injury on Friday. Dave Mulcahy, Paddy Kavanagh, and Anto Murphy are all doubts for the clash against St Pat’s. Derek Pender (achilles) and Marc Griffin (cruciate) remain on the long-term injury list.