BOHEMIANS v CORK CITY

Friday May 3 2019, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm

Match sponsor: RWL Security Solutions Matchball sponsors: K&L Upholstery

Keith Long believes in-form Bohemians need guard against wounded animal Cork City tonight.

The Gypsies continued their excellent start to the season with a confident 2-0 win against Derry City on Monday.

And tonight they welcome a Cork City side in a transition following the departure of their league and cup-winning manager John Caulfield. His assistant John Cotter has taken the reins for now.

Cork are one of only two sides to have beaten Bohs this season but Long’s side have every reason to be confident going into tonight’s game.

Long’s decision to rotate his squad for last Friday’s 0-0 draw with Waterford came under scrutiny. The win in the Brandywell three days later seemed to vindicate the decision.

But he insists it wasn’t about vindication – the decision to make changes was done out of necessity to guard tired bodies against injury and further fatigue.

Long said: “We’ve had a good week. A great win up in Derry on a Monday.

“We started well but dipped a little bit. Derry came into it but didn’t really look like scoring, James Talbot wasn’t really troubled.

“In the second half, the boys shared responsibility and we went out and delivered.

“We scored a really good first goal, had a shout for a penalty, hit the post, hit the crossbar and we get the second goal.

“We were good value for the win. Our freshness showed in the second half against a team that were visibly tiring.

“Waterford last Friday, we made a lot of changes, which we had to do playing Tuesday-Friday-Monday to keep the freshness in the team.

“Last Tuesday’s win in Tallaght was great for everyone. But the volume of games has been really, really high in the last month or so.

“We’ve had to manage the squad and rotate the squad. I don’t look on the result as vindication. That comes from our performances.

“We made changes previously up in Dundalk and they were so good and were very unlucky not to come away with something.

“We went again with a changed line-up against Waterford after the game in Tallaght, which left lads fresh for Monday.

“We know and understand the players we have at our disposal. We trust and believe in them.”

They will need that belief once more when the Leesiders come to Dalymount tonight.

Long said: “They have been in the top two the last number of years and will be very difficult opponents.

“We won’t be complacent. The fact we’ve come out of this period relatively injury-free and amassing the points tally that we have, I think we can regard it as a job done – for now.

“But we are not getting carried away. We want to maintain that. This is a big game for us, they have good players and with a change in manager, will be looking to prove themselves. We have to guard against that.

“We’re four points off the top with a game in hand. It’s a good position to be in. It’s a long time since we found ourselves in this position. We want to sustain it.”

Please note the Jodi Stand is sold out. Bohs fans are not permitted in the Des Kelly Stand for this fixture.

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall (Achilles) is ruled out. Aaron Barry cannot play under the terms of his loan agreement.

Keith Ward (foot) is a doubt.

James Finnerty did not travel to Derry on Monday due to a virus but will be okay to start.

FURTHER READING/LISTENING

David Sneyd has an excellent article on the42.ie today about Bohs’ resurgence under Keith Long. Link.  

Similarly, Des Curran has spoken to club captain Derek Pender for the RTÉ webiste. Link. Full audio.

Keith Long also gave a 20-minute interview with FAI TV. Link. 

BOHEMIANS v WATERFORD
Friday April 26 2019, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm

Match sponsors: DHL Express. Matchball sponsors: DB Electrical

Bohemians supporters are still enjoying the bragging rights after winning the Dublin derby on Tuesday.

But Danny Grant has warned that the ‘tough games keep coming’ and that there can be no let-up in performance if second-placed Bohs want to maintain and build upon their good start to the season.

Grant was a contender for the man-of-the-match award in Bohs’ 1-0 win against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght Stadium before a knock to his knee forced him off 20 minutes into the second half.

A self-assured performance beyond his years was up there with the best yet from a youngster who has progressed to the Bohs first team from the club’s U19s for whom he won two league titles in a row.

The 19-year-old, a business management student in Maynooth University, said: “I feel as a player I have come on and that’s thanks to the help I’ve got from Keith Long and Trevor Croly.

“There’s no better club in the league to be with as a young player. If you work hard and are good enough, you will get a chance.

“I want to keep developing, I want to see can if I get better. Keith’s told me he thinks I look a different player than I was before and that’s given me more confidence.”

That self-belief was evident on Tuesday as Grant was a constant thorn in Rovers’ side in the first half – drawing the first of Lee Grace’s two yellow cards and seeing Trevor Clarke red-carded when he was pulled down on the edge of the area.

Despite his relative inexperience, Grant is no stranger to causing damage in Dublin derbies – it was his low cross in the 99th minute that teed up Darragh Leahy’s memorable winner last season.

But the pressure ratcheted up another notch on Tuesday as Bohs maintained their seven-game unbeaten run against the Hoops, clawing the league leaders’ eight-point lead at the top of the table back to five in the process. The Gypsies also have a game in hand.

Grant said: “Tuesday night was great for everyone at the club. We haven’t set a target but we wanted to win, particularly to close the gap.

“There was definitely more expectation. I’ve only been involved in two derbies but you could feel there was more expectation this time.

“There was an even bigger crowd than before and we had great support behind us. We deserved the three points, although we played better against 11 men.

“I was pleased with how I did and it was a pity I had to go off. I went on a run and got a knock to back of my knee, I think from Lee Grace.

“I couldn’t keep running. I saw Wardy (Keith Ward) warming up on the sideline and I signaled to Bucko (Keith Buckley) to tell the gaffer to take me off.”

Grant is hoping to retain his place in the squad tomorrow though for the visit of Waterford to Dalymount Park – Bohs’ seventh of eight games this month, with a trip to Derry on Monday to come.

Long’s squad has been tested to the max but such have been the level of performances from players who have come into the team while he rotates things that team selection has proved difficult.

Grant said: “Tough games keep coming – the schedule this month has been a test for all clubs. But I think we are in a position this season where we have a really good squad.

“Everyone is made feel important, even if you aren’t playing. It’s obviously hard if you’re starting or borderline starting one week and then in the stands the next week.

“But it is a team effort. There is nobody sulking when they’re left out – there’s no room for that at Bohs.”

While Bohs players are only taking it one game at a time, Grant’s mam Julie can afford to look one ahead.

Her cupcakes on the team’s trip home from Ballybofey a fortnight ago proved very popular, with Danny adding: “I think maybe she’ll bake a big cake for the lads coming back from Derry on Monday instead!”

TEAM NEWS

Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) is Bohs’ only absentee.

SHAMROCK ROVERS v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League
Tuesday April 23 2019, Tallaght Stadium, 8pm

Keith Long knows Bohemians will have to adjust quickly to the heat of the Dublin derby cauldron to get a result in Tallaght tomorrow.

Bohs have had the upper hand in this fixture in recent times – winning five and drawing one of the sides’ last six meetings.

But since the rivals last met, Shamrock Rovers have remained undefeated since, have surged to the top of the table and are chasing their ninth victory in a row.

Bohs’ form isn’t too shabby either though.

Before today’s fixtures, they moved back to second in the table on Friday – eight points behind Rovers but with a game in hand.

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 BOHEMIANS v UCD
SSE Airtricity League
Friday April 19 2019, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm

Match sponsor: Bang Bang. Matchball sponsor: Used Car Centre 01-4594511

Keith Ward believes no matter what starting XI manager Keith Long picks against UCD, there is going to be someone watching on from the sidelines feeling aggrieved.

Monday’s trip to face reigning champions Dundalk was Bohs’ fourth of eight fixtures in the month of April.

With games coming thick and fast, Long made the bold the decision to make seven changes to the starting – and largely settled – XI that had won 1-0 away to Finn Harps three days previously.

None of the changes were enforced, but Long is wary of overloading part-time players with a busy schedule meaning his squad’s strength in depth is at present being tested to the max.

One of those rested was Ward, who, like the rest of those watching from the bench or stands, faces an anxious wait to see whether he will win back his place in the team.

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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.

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