That 2-0 victory in the Showgrounds saw Bohs take the lead somewhat against the run of play – a welcome reverse of what had become a habit of conceding first this season.

Long said: “It was a game where in the first half we didn’t hit the heights we have done in some games this season but we got the three points, which is the most important thing.

“We defended well despite being under pressure in the first half. Keeping them scoreless gave us the platform to push on and win the game in the second half and we could have scored more in the end.

“The challenge for us it to build on that. We haven’t put back-to-back league wins together and that has to change for us to climb up the table.

“We know we are capable of doing that. Our performances have been good enough for us to do so but we need everyone on top of their game tomorrow.”

Bohs crashed out of the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup away to holders Dundalk on Tuesday.

The relief is after that, save for next month’s Leinster Senior Cup tie away to the Lilywhites (Tuesday June 5), Bohs currently now have no further scheduled midweek fixtures for the remainder of the season.

Remarkably, Tuesday night’s 3-0 defeat was the Gypsies’ eighth midweek game this year in all competitions.

Long had flagged beforehand that his options were limited as injuries and fatigue as a result of the heavy schedule continued to take their toll.

Despite the one-sided scoreline, Long was pleased with some of the individual performances of budding youngsters thrown in at the deep end.

He added: “The game was a bit of a headache. Our hands were tied as to what kind of team we could put out whereas we knew Dundalk would be strong no matter what team lined out.

“As well as first-team players missing or who needed to be rested, some of the U19 players we’d have liked to give a run-out to – the likes of Steven Nolan, Ryan Graydon and Cian McMullen – were also unavailable.

“But it was a good test for our young players who were available and it will stand to them.

“Paddy Kirk was excellent at left-back and with Darragh Leahy injured, his performance has given me some food for thought.

“We had Andy Lyons, who is only 17, in at right-back coming up against Dylan Connolly. He fared well and the game was a great education for him.

“Dylan Thornton when he came on did very well in midfield.

“We don’t have many defensive midfielders at the club so he’s a player again who we’ll be looking at in a different light now after how well he played against strong opposition.”

TEAM NEWS

Scan results on the knee injury sustained by Darragh Leahy against Sligo Rovers last Saturday confirmed damage to his LCL, which is not as bad as first feared but will rule him out for six to eight weeks.

Dinny Corcoran (hip) and Rob Cornwall (back) return to the squad but Dan Casey (calf) is a doubt.

Derek Pender (calf) suffered a set-back when he aggravated his injury in the warm-up against Waterford 10 days ago. He is nearing a return but tomorrow’s game will come too soon for him.

Colin McCabe (shoulder), Seán Bohan (international duty with Ireland U17s), Karl Moore (ankle), Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) and Ryan Swan (cruciate) remain out.

He went from strength to strength, becoming the first Bohemians player to win a SSE Airtricity Player of the Month Award in seven years before earning a closed season transfer to Barnet.

This year, Danny Grant has been the standout beneficiary of being tested in the EA Sports Cup.

He – alongside Ryan Graydon and Dylan Thornton – was one of three members of the Graham Lawlor’s U19 team who made their first-team debuts in the 5-1 win against Cabinteely in the first round.

In total, eight of the 14 players used in that game came through Bohs’ youth ranks. In the following round against UCD when Bohs came from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 and win on penalties, it was seven from 14.

Grant, who joined the U19s from Leinster Senior League Bangor Celtic last summer, scored a long-range stunner in that win against Cabinteely in a performance that propelled him into the reckoning for league action.

The Leaving Cert student, 18, made his league debut off the bench against tonight’s opposition at the end of March and has come to prominence in crucial wins in the last month.

First, he set up the 99th-minute winner for Darragh Leahy in the 2-1 over Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght and on Saturday, he scored his first two league goals as the Gypsies claimed a crucial 2-0 victory away to Sligo Rovers.

The step-up from the U19s to the first team is a big one but Long has been delighted with Grant’s progress, which he hopes can provide inspiration for others.

He said: “Danny was rewarded for his performances for both the U19s and for the first team in the EA Sports Cup.

“He’s delivered for us now in big games and his two goals on Saturday were excellent finishes.

“We want young players to aspire to be in our first team and look at that and think ‘I can do that’.”

While the performances of young and fringe players in previous round has been lauded, it must be noted that they did come against First Division opposition in the form of Cabinteely and UCD.

Tonight is a whole lot different as they’re getting towards the business end of the competition and facing the holders.

Against Stephen Kenny, Bohs are up against a manager who has won this competition a record six times – four times with Derry City and twice with his current club.

There is a place in the semi-finals at stake so this is a game Long wants to win but with injuries mounting – Darragh Leahy the latest prominent addition to the absentee list – his options are limited and the odds stacked against his side.

He said: “Dundalk’s strength in depth is such that they will have a strong side regardless of what XI they put out.

“My hand is forced tonight because of how many players we have ruled out.

“Our squad is really stretched. We have no option but to mix it up like we have done in previous years and in previous rounds.

“But that will allow players come in and stake their claim. But coming up against players of that quality can be a valuable experience for the younger players who do feature.”

Against Sligo, Long was relieved to see his side put a halt to what had become a frustrating habit of conceding first, playing lovely football but often having no points to show for it.

They have played better in games this season and ended up with nothing on the board.

But on Saturday, they were resolute in defence when under pressure, claimed what was only their second clean sheet of the season, took the lead somewhat against the run of play before seeing the game out with a confident performance that yielded a deserved second goal.

Long added: “The first half, Sligo made it very difficult for us. They didn’t allow us to play.

“They were very direct in their approach and we were loaded with set play after set play in the box.

“But we improved after the break and once we got the goal, we looked comfortable and could have scored more so it was a pleasing result and performance.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs suffered a blow when left-back Leahy was carried off on a stretcher in visible discomfort during Saturday’s 2-0 win against Sligo Rovers.

The club is awaiting scan results on his knee but it is feared that the 20-year-old could be ruled out for eight to 12 weeks.

16-year-old goalkeeper Jamie Cleary is included in the squad once more with Colin McCabe (shoulder), who had started both previous rounds of this competition, and Seán Bohan (international duty with Ireland U17s) unavailable.

Rob Cornwall (back), Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) remain out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Dinny Corcoran (hip) and Dan Casey (calf) have minor niggles and will not be risked ahead of Friday’s league game against Bray Wanderers.

With Dylan Watts, who was today nominated for the SSE Airtricity/Soccer Writers’ Association April Player of the Month Award, pulling the strings in midfield, the Gypsies created enough chances to win any game.

But between an inability to find that killer touch in front of goal and some contentious refereeing decisions, the Gypsies failed to overturn that one-goal deficit.

Long was sent to the stands for contesting one of those calls but is not suspended for tomorrow’s game.

He said: “The energy and effort of the players on Monday, you couldn’t have asked for much more from them. They were outstanding.

“We conceded a bad goal, which has happened too often for us this season.

“But they ran themselves into the ground trying to get a goal back and it’s hard to fault the performance.”

Against Sligo Rovers, Bohs face a team one place and two points ahead of them in eighth position.

The sides cancelled each other out when they met earlier in the season in Dalymount Park in a match that finished 2-2.

He said: “The last time we played, there wasn’t a lot between us but we felt we should have won the game.

“Sligo on a Saturday is a difficult place to go but we are going there to get a result: to win.

“We are not going to feel sorry for ourselves. We believe in ourselves and we will stay strong as a group.

“Let’s go get a result.”

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall (back), Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) are out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Dan Byrne (groin) a doubt.

Paddy Kavanagh returns from suspension.

Bohs do not lack perseverance, however.

Eight of the team’s 13 league points this season have been won thanks to goals in injury-time: 1-1 v Limerick (Stokes 90), 2-1 v Bray (Corcoran 91), 2-1 Rovers (Leahy 99) and 2-2 St Pat’s (Devaney 93).

Long said: “We were off the pace in the first half. St Pat’s were first to everything at times.

“It sounds like I’m hitting pause, rewind and repeat every week but we simply have to cut out these errors.

“We need to tighten up. We’ve fallen behind in too many games.

“We conceded early in both halves and again that gave us another uphill struggle.”

Bohs were given a lifeline when St Pat’s were reduced to 10 men following the dismissal of Ryan Brennan on 52 minutes.

Long said: “The sending-off definitely changed the game. It helped us gain a foothold but the lads persevered to get the second goal.”

And the manager was delighted too to see Dinny Corcoran hitting the net once more.

He pulled one back on 73 minutes and while most match reports attributed the injury-time equaliser to Kevin Devaney, Long is adamant it was Corcoran’s.

He said: “Dinny got both goals – he got the final touch on the second. It’s important for him and will hopefully give him a confidence boost.

“He struggled with injuries in pre-season but he’s looking a lot sharper in training lately and hopefully this will do him no end of good.”

But against high-flying Waterford, they face a side who have already beaten them this season.

He said: “This is a different challenge tomorrow.

“Waterford will be very tough opponents. They’re third in the league for a reason.

“They’ve beaten us down in the RSC already. We felt we should have got something out of that game but we know we have to be at our very best.”

TEAM NEWS

Paddy Kavanagh serves an additional one-match ban for his red card against Derry a fortnight ago.

Captain Derek Pender (calf) and Karl Moore (knee) remain out alongside long-term absentees Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal).

Shane Supple (knee) and Rob Cornwall (back) are considered doubtful but Danny Grant (hamstring) returns.

But Long won’t entertain any notion of his team feeling sorry for themselves – and has once again challenged them to address their shortcomings.

He said: “Yes, the football we’ve been playing has at times been exciting and pleasing to watch.

“We were good enough on the night to get something out of that game. We created a lot in the first half and had most of the possession in the second.

“But we have to cut out those basic errors if we are to climb up the table. You need to keep clean sheets to give yourself the best chance of getting a result.

“It is a results business and it’s results that people will remember.

“You could say we were unlucky on occasion but that’s down to us not being ruthless enough in attack and at the back.

“The players fully understand that. There’s resolution in this team as to how we want to play.

“We are improving and evolving. I’m confident that we will turn performances into results.

“But we need to believe in ourselves more, be more clinical in front of goal and stronger at the back to give ourselves a chance.”

Long is among a number of managers who have voiced frustrations with the scheduling of fixtures this year.

The Gypsies have played 15 games in all competitions since the season kicked off on February 16.

And they face five in 15 days starting tomorrow evening against St Pat’s at Richmond Park.

With fixtures coming thick and fast, the durability of Long’s squad has been tested to the max.

This week, however, has provided a breather of sorts – it is only the fourth time this season that the team has had a full week to prepare for a game.

Long said: “We’ve had a week to prepare and that will help bodies to recover. I expect our players to be fresher than they have been.

“As I’ve said before, the number of fixtures being front-loaded at the start of the season has affected teams’ ability to recover and preparations before games.

“It’s something that needs to be looked at next season.”

Against sixth-place St Pat’s, Bohs face a side just one place but five points ahead of them in the table.

Bohs are desperate to close that gap, but that won’t be easy.

Long added: “St Pat’s are a different proposition for teams than they were last season.

“They’re not conceding many and have been in every game. They’ve drawn with Dundalk and knocked them out of the EA Sports Cup.

“They’ve gone up to Derry and down to Cork and were very unlucky in both, losing by the odd goal. So they’re serious opponents for any team.

“They’ve already beaten us 1-0 this season in another game where we failed to take our chances.

“So it’s the same message again – we have to be ruthless in both boxes.

“But Richmond Park is usually a good surface to play on and it’s somewhere we tend to a bring a vocal travelling support. We’re really looking forward to it.”

TEAM NEWS

Paddy Kavanagh returns from suspension but will miss Monday’s visit of Waterford to Dalymount Park after receiving an additional one-match ban for his red card against Derry City.

Danny Grant (hamstring) and Karl Moore (knee) will sit this one out. They join Derek Pender (calf), Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) on the absentee list.

Oscar Brennan (ankle) returns.