Along the way rookie keeper James Talbot has kept eight clean sheets and the four goals Bohs have been conceded have been from two penalties, a free-kick and a corner.

Long said: “We’re in good form. Both teams have done very well so far this season. There is expectation at both clubs, but we are still underdogs.

“Rovers are rightly being tipped for the league title. That is to be expected given their level of investment in their squad and the quality of player they’ve brought in.

“We’ve had a good start to the season ourselves though, built on a mean defence.

“Hopefully we can start the game quickly and put in a positive performance. We’re looking forward to it.”

A good start is important. Bohs eventually racked up an impressive 3-0 win against UCD at Dalymount on Friday.

But they were a bit slow out of the traps in the first half and Long has warned his men they can’t afford a similar start against a side of Rovers’ quality.

He said: “Tomorrow will be tough. We acquitted ourselves very well in Dundalk last week, deserved a result, but couldn’t find the breakthrough.

“We followed that up with a good win against UCD but we were sluggish in the first half – we were much better in the second half – but we will need to start brightly against Rovers.”

Competition for places is the toughest it’s been at Bohs for many years.

Ahead of Friday’s game against UCD, Keith Ward admitted no matter who was picked, there was going to be someone watching on from the sidelines feeling aggrieved.

Long agrees, adding: “It’s a good problem to have. We have players pushing hard in games and in training.

“Given how well they’ve done, there are going to be lads disappointed when they’re not starting but that’s the nature of football.”

Thanks to the addition expansion of Tallaght Stadium with the addition of the South Stand, Bohs will bring their biggest ever travelling support to Dublin 24 since the venue first opened ten years ago.

The last of the club’s allocation of 1100 were sold after Friday night’s game against UCD with many supporters left disappointed.

That win against the Students was the fifth home league game of the season for Bohs – and the fifth time the Jodi Stand has sold out as Long’s team continue to attract new support.

The average attendance at Dalymount this season has been 3,211 – up 44 per cent on last year’s average.

Long said: “Our crowds have been fantastic and right behind us all year and we’ll need that in Tallaght again.

“There is great appetite for this fixture from both sets of supporters. You don’t want to let your supporters down.

“Tallaght will be like a cauldron and even more so now with the new South Stand and hopefully we can do our bit to make sure the game can live up to its billing.”

TEAM NEWS

Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) is Bohs’ only absentee. Skipper Derek Pender and Keith Ward were rested against Dundalk and UCD but both remain available for selection.

Not only did Bohs put it up to the champions on their own patch, they did that and much, much more.

They were the far better team for the vast majority of the game, dictating the pace in a way that belied for many a lack of inexperience and others a lack of game-time.

Driven on by an encouraging away support, the Gypsies’ attempts to find the back of the net proved elusive, however.

And, in the third minute of injury-time, their efforts and enthusiasm came to a shuttering halt when Paddy Kirk was contentiously adjudged to have taken down his former Bohs team-mate Daniel Kelly inside the box.

Referee Tomás Connolly awarded a penalty and Patrick Hoban blasted past James Talbot to send the Gypsies home empty-handed. They dropped to third in the table behind Derry City in the process.

While the manner of the defeat was cruel, now that the dust has settled, Bohs, while not satisfied with moral victories, can still afford to take a lot of positives from their performance.

Ward said: “I was in the stands and I think anyone watching the game will think we deserved to win. We were gutted with the way we lost but everyone who played can hold their heads up high about the way they performed.

“We showed how good a squad we have. Man to man, we were excellent. The young lads that came in – the like of Paddy Kirk and Andy Lyons – and Ryan Swan starting his first game in 18 months, for them to play like that against the champions was extremely pleasing.

“There is good strength in depth there. Every year we lose players but Keith obviously has a good eye for them because there is real quality coming through.”

Bohs have been slow starters in recent seasons, but things seemed to have clicked a lot more quickly this term.

Ward said: “It’s a combination of good talent spotting and really hard work training.

“You look at those lads on Monday, some of them have barely played this season but they weren’t tired as the game went on and that’s down to hard work and everyone pushing each other in training all the time.

“But they controlled the game for a lot of it too which is important as you don’t tire yourself out when you’re on the ball whereas they might have if they had to chase it.

“When we train, it’s very competitive. Trevor Croly doesn’t give you an inch! That means we’re all pushing and pushing each other.

“I wouldn’t like to be Keith picking the team tomorrow! I just hope he picks me! No matter who he picks there will be lads in the stand who will feel they should be starting.”

While supporters are still kicking themselves about the way such a positive performance turned sour on Monday, Ward and Co don’t have the luxury of dwelling on it.

They  face a UCD who have improved since Bohs beat them 2-0 in Belfield in the second week of the season and have beaten both Waterford and Cork City in recent weeks.

Ward said: “UCD are 10 games in now and they will know a lot about themselves now and about the division compared to when we last played them.

“They have come on a lot already and will keep improving. They like to play the right way and will be tough opposition. It’s a very competitive division and there are no easy games – everyone knows that.”

The Jodi Stand is on course to sell out for the fifth home league game in a row – supporters are advised to buy online to avoid disappointment – with Ward admitting the players are thriving off the encouragement from the stands.

He added: “It’s great seeing big crowds in Dalymount. I’ve had people on to me looking for tickets for games we as players can’t even get hold of!

“It’s great as a player to come out to see a packed stand hopping like that. In previous seasons you might have had three or four games like that.

“But last year the crowds were up a good bit and the Jodi has been full for four games we’ve played so far this year.

“That pushes players on even more. They’re there to see you, to support you and we take pride in that. You don’t want to let them down.”

TEAM NEWS 

Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) is Bohs’ only absentee.

But Bohs exorcised those demons with a professional performance against a gutsy Harps side. 

Danny Grant netted the only goal of the game and, as revealed by skipper Derek Pender on social media later that night, was again the toast of his team-mates after his mother Julie made cupcakes for the team for their return trip.

Manager Keith Long said:  ”The result made for a nice journey home… and the lads all enjoyed Danny Grant’s mam’s cakes too. They were very nice!

“The game wasn’t a great spectacle but we worked very hard to get the three points.

“Ultimately I felt we were in control of the game for the most part but Harps threw things at us in the last 10 minutes.

“We were unlucky not to go in 2-0 at the break and we had chances in the second half to increase our lead.”
 
If there were any criticisms to be made of Bohs’ performance, it was their inability to take the chances on offer that ought to have increased the winning margin.

Against Dundalk, they are unlikely to be able afford to pass up such opportunities in front of goal.

They face a Lilywhites side who have lost two games in a row for the first time since 2016. They haven’t lost three on the bounce since 2012.

Long said: “Irrespective of Dundalk’s current form, Oriel Park is a very hard place to go to. They are league and cup champions for a reason.

“I can’t remember the last time Dundalk lost twice in a row so they will want to right that.

“But we have done well in recent weeks so we will go up confident and we will have strong belief in ourselves.

“We need to put in a very good performance to get anything from the game. If we can do that, we’ll see where that takes us.

“It’s a big test for us but I’m excited to see how we can perform against a team of Dundalk’s quality.”

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall returns from suspension. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains out.

The former Derry City stalwart helped the Leesiders to a second-placed league finish last season but it is Bohs who currently occupy that position as the division begins the second series of league fixtures.

The experienced central defender would have expected to have started for the first team in a league game by now.

James Finnerty arrived to the league from Aston Villa via Rochdale unproven at this level, while last year Rob Cornwall struggled to rediscover the form he displayed in 2017 due to a persistent niggling hamstring injury that affected his game-time and performance levels.

But such has been the form of Cornwall and Finnerty’s partnership in the heart of the Bohs defence this season that it has taken a suspension to the former – sent off in last Saturday’s 2-0 win away to Sligo Rovers – to put Barry in contention to make his first league start for the Gypsies.

Barry said: “It’s unfortunate for Rob to be missing out. Himself and James have been very solid at the back.

“In fairness, I arrived the day before the season started and the two lads haven’t put a foot wrong.

“I know how football works, I can’t have any complaints given how well they have played.

“It’s important to have strength in depth at any club and that’s what you want. But obviously I want to play. Rob’s suspension will hopefully give me an opportunity.”

Barry’s involvement thus far has been reduced to two substitute appearances in the league and starts in the Leinster Senior Cup and most recently the EA Sports Cup.

He gave a glimpse of what he is capable of in the former – netting twice in a 4-1 win against Shelbourne.

He said: “I’ve scored a couple of goals. We’ve been a threat at set-pieces this season – as you saw with James’ overhead kick that went in off his head!

“We all need to chip in with goals to take the pressure of Dinny.”

Barry is coming into a side that have belied mid-season predictions, but he is repeating the mantra of everyone keeping their feet on the ground.

They face a tricky trip to Ballybofey tomorrow – a venue that hasn’t always been kind to Keith Long’s teams in recent seasons.

He added: “I wasn’t paying too much attention to pre-season predictions but I guess people were thinking Bohs would be aiming for mid-table.

“But as soon as I came in, I could see the quality that is around the squad.

“It’s obviously been difficult for Bohs losing three or four good players every closed season but they’ve recruited well and replaced them with more quality.

“There is a good mix of young players but experience too with the likes of Derek Pender, Dinny Corcoran and Rob Cornwall.

“We’re going well at the moment and we are winning games but that can change quickly.

“We can’t get ahead of ourselves. There is a long season ahead and there will be plenty of twists and turns along the way.”

As for his own future, Barry admits that is still up in the air. His loan deal from Cork City ends in July.

He added: “I don’t look too far ahead. At the moment I’m a Bohs player and I’m determined to make the most of any opportunities I get.”

TEAM NEWS

Rob Cornwall is suspended having been sent off against Sligo Rovers last week.

Scott Allardice (facial injury) returns to the fold. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains suspended.

The Gorey man said: “We’ve had a really positive start. In the games we’ve played so far we’ve gelled quickly. But we’ve had bumps in the road too so we’re not getting carried away. We’re disappointed to lose down in Cork City and drop points against Waterford and Derry too.

“We’ve put a level of expectation on ourselves that we want to win every game. We’re disappointed when we lose and when we drop points.”

Much was made of the close-knit bond in the Bohs dressing room in recent seasons. With the loss of some senior pros and some strong characters, maintaining that atmosphere was going to be a challenge.

But leadership from the top and new recruits’ willingness to learn in pre-season has brought this squad even closer.

Levingston said: “There is great talent in the group. The togetherness within the squad is strong too.

“A lot of that comes down to the good pre-season we had and the work that Keith and Trevor Croly put in with us. The sessions were intense, we crammed a lot into them and we learned a lot.

“We weren’t ran into the ground as you might be at some clubs. Our focus was on our ball work.”

Like many of Bohs’ young guns, 21-year-old Levingston is a player looking to push on once more having returned to Ireland after four years learning his trade in England.

Many of his team-mates are in a similar position. Levingston joined from Wolves, Talbot returned to football after taking the guts of a year out having returned to Finglas after three years with Sunderland, James Finnerty returned to Skryne via Rochdale from Aston Villa, Danny Mandroiu to Ballymun from Brighton, Luke Wade-Slater to Dunshaughlin from Stevenage.

The difference in expectation and physicality between playing U23s development football in England compared to the demanding nature of League of Ireland football was a source of concern highlighted in pre-season.

Both Long and captain Derek Pender pleaded for patience as players would need time to adapt. But seven games in, it is a case of so far, so good.

Levingston said:”It’s my first experience of men’s football as it is for a lot of the lads. It is a big step up with a lot at stake. You have to be first to every ball and to every second ball.

“With so many young lads, it was a case or sink or swim for us all. Detser (Derek Pender) is our captain and he shows you tough love!

“He’s been around the block and knows the league inside out. If you’re not doing your job, he will let you know.

“I’ve learnt so much from him and so much from Bucko (Keith Buckley) too. It’s been a very welcoming dressing room.

“The lads already at the club said at the start that it was the best dressing room group they’ve ever had, so we were encouraged from the start.”
Bohs vice-captain Keith Buckley celebrates his winner v St Pat’s with team-mates Kevin Devaney and Rob Cornwall. Photo: Stephen Burke

Another factor in Bohs’ positive start has been the competition for places all over the pitch and with eight fixtures in April, the strength in depth of the squad is likely to be tested.

The first of those eight games took place on Monday as Bohs came from behind to beat Cabinteely 2-1 in the EA Sports Cup at Dalymount Park.

Bohs started sluggishly. But with 11 changes from the team that took to the field in last Friday’s 1-0 derby win against St Patrick’s Athletic, it was always going to take time to gel.

A much-improved second-half performance saw Bohs progress and Levingston admits players are looking over their shoulders with a queue of team-mates ready and willing to take their place in the starting line-up – especially in a congested month of fixtures where durability and tiredness will come into play more than ever.

Levingston added: “It’s important to have strength in depth. Training has been really competitive. The players not playing, none of them are sulking.

“They’re pushing everyone in training every night. Training is so competitive, which is a testament to the attitude of the players who are unlucky not to have been playing.

“There are lads bursting to play. You know if you’ve a bad game that there are lads who will jump at the chance to take your spot. You need that as a team if you want to be successful.”

Against Sligo, Bohs face a team eighth in the table who will be disappointed with their start to the season and determined to make amends.

Levingston added: “It’s a competitive league and there are no easy games. It’s my first time to play there obviously but the lads say it’s a hard place to go.

“But we’ll go down with a good attitude determined to get three points.”

TEAM NEWS

Scott Allardice is a doubt having suffered a facial injury against Cabinteely. Cristian Magerusan (cruciate) remains out.