“They work extremely hard for one another but we have our own ambitions so our own performance level has got to be right

“We have to look after our own results first. We’ve got ourselves into a good position and we want to stay there.

“We’ve nine games left, there will be plenty of ups and downs between now and the end of the season but we need to win games to stay where we are.”

Bohs come into this game on the back of a 1-1 draw with Sligo Rovers.

Long said: “A draw was a probably a fair result. They haven’t lost at the Showgrounds since we beat them earlier in the season, so it was a good point but we could have won it in the second half.”

TEAM NEWS

Captain Derek Pender begins his three-match additional suspension tonight for the part he played in post-match flare-ups against UCD last month, which were instigated by the Students’ goalkeeper Conor Kearns.

Pender is likely to be replaced at right-back by Andy Lyons, who returns to the squad after being away on international duty with Ireland at the Uefa European U19 Championships.

Long added: “Andy had a great tournament and the feedback from Tom Mohan has been top notch. He’s coped well with any challenges he’s come up against so far and now is another opportunity for him.”

Paddy Kirk is suspended for accumulative yellow cards, Keith Buckley (hamstring) is a doubt, Rob Cornwall (Achilles) remains a doubt, while Ryan Swan, a late withdrawal with a hamstring injury ahead of the Sligo game, also remains a doubt.

Long-term absentees Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

That drive ended up costing him, however.

An Achilles injury has kept him out of action since the end of April and with Talbot keeping three clean sheets in his last four games, those who have come into the team in his place have fared pretty well of late.

Cornwall, 24, admits: “I had tendinitis in my Achilles. It just felt a bit sore, so I played on with it.

“I felt it about ten days before the Derry game away in April. Then I felt it again playing against Derry but I didn’t want to come off, I just wanted to keep playing.

“I kept thinking ‘what’s wrong with me?’ It’s just a bit sore.’

“I don’t know why this went through my head but all I could think about was that goalkeeper who played on in the cup final with a broken neck, so I didn’t want to come off with just a sore foot!

Bert Trautmann

“I just wanted to get on with it and that probably made it worse.

“The staff have been great at the club. Our physios Paul Kirwan – Paul is an expert in this particular area – and Robbie Murray have been first class with me, so I have to thank them, Cathal Murtagh (strength and conditioning coach) and Remy Tang (club sport scientist).

“I’m back training now and my objective is to get fit and back into the team when an opportunity comes. I’m back training since last week and fully back this week.”

But winning back his place in the team now will be trickier than one would have expected earlier in the year.

His form then was such that he was probably one of the first names on Keith Long’s teamsheet each week.

His absence was felt too – Bohs went on a run of six league games without keeping a clean sheet. But they’ve shored up since with those tasked with filling his place in the side stepping up to the plate.

Cornwall admits: “The lads have done really well. I’ll have to bide my time to get an opportunity.

“We’ve some very good defenders at the club. With myself and Aaron Barry being injured, Michael Barker has come into the team and has done really well.

“He’s one of the most underrated players in the league in my opinion but he’s done so well people are starting to realise just how good he is now.

“Barks was unlucky at the start of the season getting injured himself but he’s got into the side now and has done really well. I’ve seen it in training, so it’s no surprise to me.

“Then you’ve had Darragh Leahy play centre-half recently. To move from left-full to centre-half and do so well is impressive.

“He was brilliant against St Pat’s… I was cursing him. I might have to change position to get in the team they’ve done so well.. maybe there’s room in midfield.”

Bohs travel to Sligo buoyed by 3-0 Dublin derby win against St Patrick’s Athletic on Sunday.

It was an encouraging performance from Bohs, particularly in the second half, but certainly not as emphatic a performance as the scoreline suggested.

Sligo beat the Gypsies in their last meeting with a sucker-punch in the 89th minute to win 2-1 in Dalymount Park back in May, so they too are not a side that Bohs will underestimate.

The previous meeting between the sides at The Showgrounds in April saw Bohs travel home happy with three points and a 2-0 win in a game that Cornwall was sent off in for a clumsy last-man challenge.

“We still kept a clean sheet though,” he is at pains to point out and adds: “Every game for us from now until the end of the season is a tough one. We’ve got ourselves into a good position but we have to be at it every game to stay there.”

“Sligo have already beaten us this season. Liam Buckley has won everything there is to win as a manager in this league so we know we are in for another tough game.”

TEAM NEWS

Derek Pender and Danny Mandroiu return from suspension.

Aaron Barry (hamstring), Rob Cornwall (Achilles) and Danny Grant (hamstring) all returned to full training last week, with Grant coming off the bench against St Pat’s on Sunday, and all are in contention against Sligo.

Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out.

Andre Wright could be included in squad for first time after international clearance came through on Thursday.

Andy Lyons has returned following Ireland’s exit from the Uefa U19 European Championships but is likely to be rested.

Wardy, 28, said: “It was a great night on Wednesday for the club. As a team I think we gave a very good account of ourselves.

“The way we played, I think outsiders to the league at the game will have been impressed.

“We kept the ball and we went at them when we could. We know it was only a friendly but hopefully we showed people there is quality in our league and that we can play.”

Eric Molloy celebrates equaliser v Chelsea – Thomas McCormack

Bohs emptied their bench on Wednesday – it was very much an exhibition game. But it is back to real business tomorrow when they face a resurgent UCD in Belfield.

Collie O’Neill has seen key men Conor Davis, Neil Farrugia and Gary O’Neill leave the club in recent weeks but has also seen his team move off the foot of the table in the same period.

First they beat Finn Harps in a relegation six-pointer. And on Friday they both helped Bohs’ bid to stay in third but also provided Long’s men a reminder – if one was needed – that they are capable of getting results as they drew 0-0 away to fourth-placed Derry City.

Ward said: “You can’t underestimate UCD, they’ve got good young players. We know they’ve lost some players but they still have quality and they’ve brought in Jack Keaney from Sligo too.

“They’ve got a win and a draw in their last two games and we are in for a tricky game. We’ve done our homework and we know it will be difficult.”

To get a result, Bohs will need to be more potent in front of goal than they have in recent weeks. James Talbot has claimed three clean sheets from four but up front, Bohs have fired blanks in recent 0-0 draws against Derry City and Cork City.

Ward concedes they are missing key man Dinny Corcoran, out with an ankle injury. But he has backed Bohs’ attacking players, himself included, to come up with the goods.

He said: “When any team loses their main striker it can be difficult. It’s up to us as attacking players to step up.

“When we don’t keep clean sheets, we’re at our defenders so as attacking players we know we need to chip in at the other end too.

“We’re working hard in training to do that and I know we can improve.”

One man in midfield who has chipped in at various stages this season is Danny Mandroiu.

Up until this season, Ward tended to occupy the role of attacking midfielder sitting in behind the lone striker.

But Mandroiu’s form in that position has seen Ward moved out to the left wing, while they both also vie for set-piece duties.

Ward laughs: “I nearly scored a free-kick against Derry! Our rivalry is a healthy one, but I’m older and better looking.

“The fans have taken to him, he’s been great for us. Obviously, everyone was talking about the goal against Rovers and he deserved to win Player of the Month.

“But he’s been one of the standout players in the league and they’re the kind of players you want to play with. I don’t mind playing on the wing, the main thing is I’m playing and contributing to the team.”

TEAM NEWS

Aaron Barry (hamstring), Rob Cornwall (Achilles), Danny Grant (hamstring), Dinny Corcoran (ankle) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remain out. Andy Lyons is away with the Ireland U19s.

Michael Barker and Kevin Devaney (both concussion) returned to the fray against Chelsea.

Swan and Long – Stephen Burke

The former UCD striker said: “It was only our second training session of pre-season. It was really unfortunate. Even the way it happened, it wasn’t even a bad tackle.

“It was just from the way I landed after crossing the ball. I’ve never had a serious injury before that but I knew something wasn’t right.”

It was a cruel blow and one that tested Swan’s strength of character.

But, with the support of manager Keith Long, assistant manager Trevor Croly and a strong dressing room, Swan persevered.

Croly and Swan – Stephen Burke

He said: “The first few weeks were hard, really hard. They were probably the hardest few weeks of my life.

“You’re watching on as all the lads prepared for the season opener against Rovers knowing you wouldn’t even get to play a game in the season.

“But as the rehab progressed, I was more positive. Keith and Trevor keep you going and make you feel a part of it.

“You’re never left drift away just because you’re injured and all the lads in the dressing play a big role in that too.

“When the lads went on that really good run of form in the second half of last season, it inspired me even more to want to be a part of that.”

Swan gets off the mark against Harps – Stephen Burke

That determination continued over the closed season period, with the Finglas man determined to knuckle down and make up for lost time.

He said: “All over Christmas I couldn’t wait to get started, I think it’s the first pre-season I’ve ever looked forward to!”

He finally made his Bohs debut in a 10-minute cameo appearance in the opening day of the season 1-0 victory against Finn Harps but found game-time hard to come by due to the early-season form of Corcoran.

Similar appearances from the bench followed but he had to wait until the tenth game of the season to get his first league start, benefiting from Long’s decision to rotate his squad during a congested month in the fixture calendar, playing 86 minutes against Dundalk in Oriel Park in a game Bohs should have won but lost 1-0 in injury time.

He said: “I knew I would have to bide my tine. It was never going to be easy the way Dinny started the season and the impact.

“I just had to keep my head down and take my chance when it came.”

And that he has done. Getting up to speed after a season on the sidelines is easier said than done but he has equipped himself well in the appearances he has made so far.

With Corcoran suffering a serious ankle injury in last month’s defeat to Sligo Rovers, Swan now has the chance to stake his claim.

And he did his chances of getting an extended run in the team no harm when he nabbed a brace in Bohs’ last outing against Finn Harps.

Swan said: “It was a special, special moment for me after the year I had. To grab a second was great too.

“I was just delighted to get off the mark and I hope I can go on and get more now.”

Ryan, front, with Derek and family – Sportsfile

Seeing the surname Swan appear on the Bohs scoresheet 19 years after his father Derek scored his final goals in red and black leads to inevitable and probably unavoidable comparisons between the two.

But Ryan take that in his stride, adding: “It doesn’t faze me at all, we’re different people and different players. To me he’s just my da!

“But I do love reading stuff about him when he crops up in the programme from time to time.”

While he is unmoved by those comparisons, he admits he relishes the fact that supporters have reworked the Derek Swan Blue Moon chant regularly sung on the terraces two decades ago to include his name instead.

He said: “When I signed I wondered would they sing it. I heard it for the first time up in Oriel Park and I love the fact they sing the same song that they sang about my dad.

“It felt special hearing that, but a bit strange too!”

Ryan, front, and family at Derek’s testimonial v Tranmere Rovers in 2000 – Sportsfile

If he manages to get on the scoresheet against Rovers, those father-son comparisons will continue but again the young hitman is taking tomorrow’s game in his stride.

He added: “For me you have to look at it as just another game. I’ve prepared for it like it’s no different to any other game. You eat, sleep and train the same way and focus on what is required of you.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs are without Rob Cornwall (Achilles), Dinny Corcoran (ankle), Danny Grant (hamstring) and Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) as well as the suspended duo of skipper Derek Pender and James Finnerty and Darragh Leahy who is on international duty with the Ireland U21s in Toulon.

Keith Buckley (leg) and Robbie McCourt (ankle) return to the fold.