Long said: “We conceded poor goals again. We just can’t continue to do that.

“We started off well, Dundalk were passing the ball well and had a lot of possession but they couldn’t get near us.

“But then we shot ourselves in the foot in a seven-minute period and found ourselves 2-0 down. Those goals were avoidable.

“We were a lot better in the second half but the damage was already done and Dundalk were comfortable at that stage.

“We did look the more likely team to score for much of the half before they got their third.

“Danny Grant came on for his league debut and did well. He should have had a penalty and he was probably a little too honest staying on his feet as he was fouled.

“At 2-0, that could have brought us back into the game but the damage was done with those mistakes in the first half.”

With two games a week for the past month taking its toll with a growing injury list, Long once again opted to use the EA Sports Cup as an opportunity to give both youth and players needing game-time a chance to show what they can do.

Having gone 2-0 down against First Division table-toppers UCD on Easter Monday, the experimental side battled back to 2-2 to force extra-time and a penalty shootout.

The game also ended Bohs’ unfortunate run of missing three penalties in a row (Eoghan Stokes v Derry, Keith Ward v St Pat’s and Dylan Watts v Cabinteely although the latter scored the rebound).

First, JJ Lunney scored from the spot to force extra-time and Bohs scored all five in the subsequent shootout with Stokes atoning for his penalty miss earlier in the season by netting the decisive spot-kick.

Long said: “We made 10 changes to the starting team that played against Dundalk. Dan Casey was the only player to start both games but we had taken him off against Dundalk.

“That game was a great test of where our younger players are at – UCD are in form at the top of the First Division and they played their strongest team.

“The team that we put out haven’t played a lot of football together, so there were mistakes. But they didn’t let their heads drop and the players took control of the game to turn it around.”

Last time Bohs faced Limerick, it took a late effort from Stokes for Bohs to salvage a point despite bossing much of the game.

Long added: “We have to roll up our sleeves. We are at home tomorrow and we want to deliver a good performance.

“There was a good Bohs crowd up in Dundalk and our supporters expected us to do better.

“But they are realistic too. Everyone knows that with the ten-team league and clubs with stronger resources, now more than ever there aren’t easy games.

“We want the fans on our side from the start again and the atmosphere to be right.

“If games are in the balance, our fans can really play their part.

“They can give our players that little bit of extra confidence, so we hope Dalymount is bouncing again and an intimidating place for teams to come and play.”

TEAM NEWS

Skipper Derek Pender (calf) will sit this one out again. Kevin Devaney (virus), Philly Gannon (hamstring) and Rob Cornwall (back) are all also sidelined.

Dan Byrne (groin), Keith Buckley (hamstring) and Paddy Kavanagh (hamstring) are all doubts.

Long-term absentees Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) and Ryan Swan (cruciate) remain out.

“We know our performance levels have to be much better than they were against Bray, especially against the likes of Dundalk.

“They’ve been the team to beat for a number of years so we will need to be resolute.

“We got a bit of luck in the end against Bray that we haven’t had in previous games.

“But you have to make your own luck and it was an excellent goal – great composure from Dinny to finish and excellent play from Keith Ward to set him up.

“It’s important Dinny got off the mark. He’s an important player for us but he’s struggled a bit since pre-season with a groin injury niggling at him.

“He wasn’t really in the game much before that. But when he was handed that chance, he took it and that’s what good goalscorers like Dinny do.”

Bohs followed that win up with a comprehensive 5-1 victory against Cabinteely in the EA Sports Cup on Monday.

That was a more satisfying performance, particularly as it was an experimental line-up featuring several players needing game-time and members of the club’s U19 team.

Three U19 stars made their first-team debuts: Daniel Grant, who scored, Ryan Graydon and Dylan Thornton.

In total, eight – adding Dan Byrne, Jamie Hamilton, John Ross Wilson, Paddy Kirk and Steven Nolan – of the 14 players who saw game-time came through the club’s youth system.

A further four – Sean Bohan, Cian McMullen, Mitch Byrne and Luke Nolan – were the unused substitutes.

Long said: “Several lads have put their hands up now. We could have scored more. It was an excellent performance overall, albeit against First Division opposition.

“We started a bit shakily, which is understandable when you take into account the back five hadn’t played a game at all this season never mind playing a game together.

“As well as the younger players, some of the more senior players came into the team and did very well.

“Dan Byrne captained the side and didn’t put a foot wrong. I felt Philly Gannon also gave a very mature performance and Dylan Watts scored twice and was excellent.

“Several players have given me a lot to think about and it’s not a bad headache to have.”

TEAM NEWS

Skipper Derek Pender (calf) remains out, while Kevin Devaney (illness) is also sidelined. Karl Moore (back) is a doubt.

Strikers Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) remain out.

U19 striker Danny Grant, who scored on his first-team debut against Cabinteely, is expected to make the bench.

Long is determined to put it right against Bray Wanderers tomorrow and has demanded that his team, still looking for their first clean sheet of the season, tighten up at the back.

He said: “To be successful, you have to do the basics of the game well.

“We as a group at critical times in games so far this season have not respected the fundamentals of the game.

“We are conceding bad goals and until we eradicate this from our game, we will find it very tough to win.”

But Long is positive his side have enough talent and guile about them to get back on track.

He said: “Some of our play has been very good and maybe we haven’t got what we deserved at times.

“We don’t lack for effort and desire.

“But our decision-making and final pass in the final third needs to be better in order to create more goal-scoring opportunities and to work the opposition goalkeeper more.

“Defending well gives you a platform to perform and if you are solid at the back, you are always in contention.

“We need to improve as a team in this area and if we can achieve this, I believe we have the quality in attack to score goals and to hurt teams.”

Long says his players are “hurting” after their disappointing run of form but believes a vocal home support tomorrow can give them the perfect lift.

He added: “The support has been fantastic this season as always. The players need that now more than ever. They are hurting, we all are.

“We need Dalymount to be bouncing and let’s hope we can deliver the result we all crave.”

TEAM NEWS

Captain Derek Pender is ruled out after being forced off against Cork City with a calf strain.

Fellow defender Rob Cornwall is a doubt with a virus.

Strikers Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) remain out.

The Gypsies started brightly in the 1-0 defeats to Derry City, St Patrick’s Athletic and, most recently, Waterford on Monday.

But Long has been left frustrated by his side’s inability thus far to turn possession and chances into goals.

Long said: “We have had opportunities to score in every game, most notably missed penalties at home to Derry and St Pat’s.

“But the concession of cheap goals has been our Achilles heel.

“In all of our games to date, we have conceded the first goal. In order to give ourselves any chance, we must try and get the opening goal.

“Despite lots of our build-up play looking promising at times, we have failed to work the opposition goalkeepers enough.

“We have ended up on the wrong side of results in games where we have been very much in contention and should have taken something from.”

Despite Long’s frustrations, he believes his side have both the character and ability to get back to winning ways.

He said: “Results and performance needs to be addressed and I believe that we have the players and character to change our fortunes.

“We are all frustrated that we have not been able to build on the Rovers win on the opening night of the season.

“But I firmly believe we are not a million miles off and we are only one good result and performance away from kick-starting our season.”

Long does not expect heads to drop and in fact believes his team should relish the pressure on them to get a result against Sligo.

He added: “There is pressure on us to deliver at home. We cannot shy away from that – that pressure to win should act as a spur for our players.

“We need to show our mettle now and show courage to get our season back on track.

“It won’t be easy as Sligo are a good side who try to play an expansive game. But we are at home and I expect to see a reaction from our players.”

TEAM NEWS

Kevin Devaney is a doubt with an Achilles injury that ruled him out against Waterford on Monday. Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) remain out.

“We must get on with it. It is a great challenge for the players along with the staff in terms of planning and preparation.”

Last time out, Bohs failed to capitalise on an encouraging first-half performance against Derry City and ended up empty-handed after Ronan Curtis’ 60th-minute goal gave the visitors a perhaps undeserved 1-0 victory.

Long is hoping for a more consistent performance tomorrow and said: “Last week’s conditions meant it wasn’t a night for the faint-hearted, so we appreciated the support we got.

“But the result was very disappointing. I felt it was a great opportunity missed.

“It was a disjointed performance and we never really exerted enough pressure on the opposition when the game was in the balance.

“We must learn from this. But we are a young group and I believe we will improve.

“Hopefully now we can put in a good performance and get the desired result.”

TEAM NEWS

Dinny Corcoran (groin) and Rob Manley (hamstring) return to the squad. Ryan Swan (cruciate) and Cristian Magerusan (metatarsal) remain out.