Long credits the players with building a strong spirit in the camp. “The players have to be admired for how they have taken ownership of their performances to date,” he said.

“We give them a structure to play in, but the players deserve a lot of credit for how they have conducted themselves and how they have performed so far this year.”

However, Long believes his team could and should have got more from Monday’s game against Sligo Rovers.

“We created the outstanding chances in the game, so it does feel like two points dropped.

“Sligo are a good team despite their indifferent start to the season, so we’re not too disappointed to come away with a point. However, I did feel we had enough clear-cut chances in the game to get the three points.”

The Bohemian manager gave first league-starts of the campaign to midfielders Dave Mulcahy and James O’Brien and was pleased with how that worked out.

“Obviously, Dave is an experienced player and that experience was important to us on the night and will be as we go forward. James offers the team something different as an attack-minded midfielder with an eye for goal.

“He slipped a great pass to Dean Kelly that could have given us the winning goal late in the game. We have a squad that we trust to put in the performances when we ask them.”

Long does admit to some disappointment at the performance in last weekend’s home game against St Patrick’s Athletic.

“Our job is to entertain and I felt that in front of such a big crowd we possibly missed an opportunity. People may have come out for the first time this season, or for the first time in a while, and it was a chance to get them back on board.

“We didn’t play to our potential. The performance wasn’t as good as I hoped for, or as good as I know we can play. I came away from that game thinking we didn’t do ourselves justice and we didn’t give the supporters what they deserve.”

Long insists the team will get better as the season goes on. “I keep reinforcing to the players that they can improve and the good thing is they’re not shying away from that. They know they can get better,” he said.

Robbie Creevy (ankle) missed the Sligo game and will face a late fitness test for Friday. After a long lay-off with a cruciate injury, Dan Byrne returned this week to full training – “a great positive for the club”, according to manager Long.

“We didn’t create enough chances throughout the game. We were okay with some set-pieces but we lacked guile in open play despite having lots of the ball. That’s something I want us to improve on tonight.”

Long says his side have “lots of little niggles” from Friday’s game, but the only main concern is Robbie Creevy (ankle) and long-term absentee Dan Byrne, who is making steady progress in rehabilitation from his cruciate injury.

“The next four games are huge. First Pat’s, and then away to Sligo and Derry in the same week, and Cork the following week. That’s the challenge for us and we’re looking forward to it.”

Long is keenly aware of the strengths St Patrick’s have in their squad. He saw them two weeks ago come from two goals and then a man down against Longford Town to earn a 2-2 draw.

“They’re as good a passing side as there is in this league. We know it will be a very difficult game on Friday. We’ve got to be disciplined. We can’t be easy to play through because they have quality players with clever movement that can punish any lapse in concentration.”

But if he expects improved results for St Patrick’s Athletic, Long is also aiming to get more from his players. “We can’t argue with results so far but there’s still room for us to be tidier with the ball and more creative in the final third.”

Dave Mulcahy’s return adds to the competition for places. He came on as a sub in the recent EA Sports Cup match against Longford Town and had a “slight reaction”. He was left out of the squad for the league game against the same opposition four days later but is now available for his first league start of the season.

Robbie Creevy has a knock and will face a late fitness test. Otherwise, Long has a full squad to choose from, with only long-term injury Dan Byrne (cruciate) missing. Byrne will return to contact training next week following a six-month lay-off, further strengthening Long’s hand in maintaining Bohemians’ defensive record.

“It’s a lonely place when you’re training on your own and not fully participating in training but Dan has worked extremely hard and done really well to get to this point. It’s a credit to him.”

“Against Drogheda, we showed great resilience and defensive organisation after going a man down within 20 minutes. To get the goal at the death and to come away with three points was very pleasing ,” said Long.

“We have a group of players that are demanding of each other both in training and in games and there is competition for places throughout the squad, and that’s what we want.”

Substitutes Keelan Dillon and Marc Griffin played vital roles in securing the three points in Drogheda, combining for the striker’s 88th-minute goal.

Dave Mulcahy may feature against Longford Town on Friday, as he comes back to full fitness. Stephen Best came off after a knock on Tuesday and is doubtful. With Derek Prendergast suspended, Long will have to reshuffle his back line.

The manager acknowledges his defenders’ and goalkeeper Dean Delany’s contributions to five clean sheets in six league games, and seven clean sheets in all nine competitive games this season. The team’s defensive record is a collective effort, he insists.

“Dean gets the credit, and rightly so. He saved a penalty up in Drogheda and has pulled off important saves in games,” said Long.

“But it’s not just Dean, defending starts from the front and the work-rate and effort of the players throughout the team has been very good.”

“The likes of James O’Brien was suspended for the opening game, while people like Conor Murphy haven’t got any game-time at all.

“Dave Mulcahy will return to the squad too for the the first time this season and we would like to feature him at some stage as well.”

Despite a settled team, competition for places remains fierce as evidenced by the fact two substitutes combined for the late winner for 10-man Bohs’ 1-0 win away to Drogheda on Friday that ensured the Gypsies remain fourth in the table.

“It wasn’t a great game but having had Derek Prendergast sent off so early in the game, we showed great character to stay in it for 70 minutes, save a penalty and get the win.

“It shows we have players on the bench who can make an impact. In a game that lacked quality, it was a bit of class at the end from Kealan Dillon and Marc Griffin to come away with a great three points.”

Bohs have no major additional injury concerns tonight, although Anto Murphy and Lorcan Fitzgerald are carrying minor knocks and may be rested. Mulcahy (calf) could feature from the bench, while Dan Byrne (cruciate) is still unavailable.