“We performed badly in our last game against them at Dalymount, so we want to make amends for that and it’s our last chance to do so this season.

“We’re looking forward to it. It should be a good spectacle but the most important things is we come out of it with the right result.”

Bohs come into this game on the back of a disappointing 2-1 loss against Bray Wanderers.

Harry Kenny’s Seagulls extended their remarkable run to just one defeat in 15 games. But Long was disappointed with his side’s performance.

He added: “We didn’t play well, particularly in the first half. Individually and collectively, the performance wasn’t right.

“That’s happened too many times this season and we all have to take responsibility for that and put it right.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs are once again without Ismahil Akinade through illness.

Captain Derek Pender has been suffering with a virus but is expected to be available for selection.

Manager Keith Long said: “Shane’s a top bloke and a really excellent goalkeeper.

“He’s done really well since he’s come into the team and he is exactly the kind of character we want in the dressing room.

“Shane is the level of player we want to build our team around next season and we hope to be in a position to announce more signings in the near future.”

Bohs come into this game on the back of successive 1-0 victories against Wexford Youths and Longford Town respectively.

But Long feels there is still room for improvement as the Gypsies aim to win three league games in a row for the first time this season.

Long said: “I don’t think we’ve played particularly well in either of those games.

“Once we got the goal, we never looked like conceding. But we didn’t hit the heights we are capable of.

“We got maximum points from two games but the players are conscious that we can play better.

“We are constantly looking to improve and evolve how we play. We are definitely going to have to play better to get anything out in Bray.

“But we’re really looking forward to it. We’re going there with a bit of confidence after two wins and we are in a positive frame of mind.”

Against Harry Kenny’s Seagulls, Bohs are facing one of the league’s in-form teams.

Long added: “Since Harry came in, Bray have been on an upward curve. In Dylan Connolly, they have probably the most in-form player in the league.

“They’ve only lost once in 14 games and that was away to Cork City. That included a 0-0 draw against us, which we were very unlucky not to win.

“You’ve two teams who want to finish the season on a high. It’s not going to be easy but it’s going to be a great battle.”

TEAM NEWS

Goalkeeper Shane Supple (groin) is available again for selection. Striker Izzy Akinade (illness) remains out.

There weren’t many clear-cut chances of note in the opening half hour but the hosts began getting on top with some nice sustained bouts of pressure albeit not looking threatening. But the home fans frustration didn’t last too long though when the deadlock was finally broken on the 33rd minute.

Man of the moment, Jake Kelly delivered a dangerously whipped in-swinging free kick from the right side and looked to have gone straight in without a touch but Kurtis Byrne, like all good forwards, claimed he got the faintest of touches to grab his ninth league goal of the season.

The second half started much the same as the first, Bohs looked neat and tidy in possession while the visitors, despite their hard work and endeavor, lacked a bit of quality in possession to sustain any pressure.

The game fell into a lull with neither team creating openings so both managers decided to utilize their benches to inject a bit of life into the game but it failed to materialize. A scuffed effort from Kurtis Byrne followed a David O’Sullivan header just over as the game threatened to come to life.

Just as the game was drifting to a close, Longford decided to go route one and push man mountain Yann Mvita up front as an emergency forward. The big man made his presence felt winning some flick ons, but the Bohs defence managed to deal with the threat and hold on for the win.

Longford will be glad to see the back of Bohs this season as the Gypsies maintained their good run of form against them, with Bohs having not conceded in either game this season, a 2-0 win at home and a 1-0 victory away.

Up next for the Gypsies is a tough away trip to the Carlisle Grounds were they face a spirited Bray Wanders. Meanwhile Longford host high flying Derry City at home, and with time running out to pick up valuable points in order to pull Wexford youths closer, its not looking good for Alan Mathews troops.

Bohemian FC: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Keith Buckley, Kurtis Byrne, Jake Kelly (Marco Chindea 90+1’), Paddy Kavanagh (Eoin Wearen 75’), Dean O’Halloran (Mark Quigley 70’), Ian Morris

Subs: Dean Mahon, Dan Byrne, Stephen Best, Dylan Hayes

Longford Town: Ryan Coulter, Jamie Mulhall (Noel Haverty 45’), Conor Powell, Kealan Dillon (David O’Sullivan 66’), Peter McGlynn, Don Cowan (Kaleem Simon 72’) Kevin O’Connor, Yann Mvita, Pat Flynn, Philip Gannon, Eddie Dsane

Subs: Paul Skinner, Mark Hughes, Gaius Makouta, Rhys Gorman

“But points on the board is the most important thing. We want to finish the season as strongly as we possibly can.”

Victory against Wexford Youths came on the back of successive defeats against league leaders Dundalk and, more disappointingly, Galway United.

Errors at the back cost Bohs in the 2-0 loss away to the Tribesman.

But with a fresh centre-back pairing of Ian Morris and Derek Prendergast, Bohs looked solid in defence on Monday as they claimed their 11th clean sheet in the league this season.

Long said: “Our hand was forced on against Wexford to a certain extent.

“Stephen Best was unavailable due to a problem with his teeth and braces. Three games in eight days might have been a lot to ask of Dan Byrne too.

“Ian Morris came in and he’s an extremely experienced player. We missed Derek Prendergast’s organisational skills down in Galway too.

“It wasn’t a great game but once we got our noses in front, we looked comfortable.”

Known for his regular goal-of-the-season contenders, the game was decided by an uncharacteristic tap-in from Kurtis Byrne.

Long said: “He got a bit of help from the goalkeeper too, he was disappointed with that! We joked afterwards that he needs to get more of those.

“But Kurtis doesn’t need to prove himself to everyone. He’s our top scorer with eight in the league and 14 in all competitions.

“I think at the start of the season he would have been aiming for double figures in the league so there’s plenty of time for him to do that now and more.

“I’ve said before that he’s more of a No 10 than a No 9 but with Izzy Akinade unavailable, he’s been asked to do a different job.”

Bohs face bottom side Longford Town who, last weekend away to Finn Harps, claimed their first victory since the opening day of the season.

Long added: “It was a deserved win for them by all accounts. That will give them renewed confidence.

“They know it’s now or never for them. They’re scrapping for points. We have to be ready for that and can’t be found wanting.”

TEAM NEWS

Izzy Akinade (illness) remains out and is unlikely to feature again this season. Shane Supple (groin) is a doubt, while Stephen Best (dental) returns.

Eric Molloy then had the home fans worried on the 38th minute when he hit a brilliant first time volley that rifled past Supple and just beyond the far post after Bohs failed to deal with a free kick just inside their half.

As much as Wexford were showing a physical approach, their aggression again spilled over into dangerous territory when just before half time Peter Higgins could have easily received his marching orders for a late lunge at Bohs skipper Derek Pender. The referee again decided it was just worthy of a caution.

Bohs then snatched the lead right on half time after some nice work down the right hand side by Paddy Kavanagh. The right winger delivered a dangerous cross right in the channel between defence and keeper, and Kurtis Byrne did well to get ahead of his marker and, on the stretch, his close range effort was parried in the air by Doyle, but the Bohs front man was quickest to react to poke the ball home.

Bohs started the second half with a slight change of formation, Keith Buckley moved out to the left side with O’Halloran partnering Byrne up top in a 4-4-2 formation as they began to gain more possession.

The tactical switch seemed to suit the home side with O’Hallorans pace causing all sorts of problems for the Wexford defence and could have doubled their lead on the hour mark. A neat passing move in the midfield resulted in Buckley slipping Byrne down the left hand side of the box but he was dragged his left footed shot just wide.
The physical encounter did not relent as Bohs centre half Ian Morris found himself in the book when he mistimed a last ditch tackle on Danny Furlong. This followed a good chance for the home side when Lorcan Fitzgerald delivered an in-swinging cross that Derek Prendergast was unable to guide goalwards.

The Gypsies should have killed the game off on the 77th minute from another excellently delivered Fitzgerald corner. The ball dropped just inside the far post and just as it seemed easier to score, Ian Morris somehow got his bearings all wrong and couldn’t force it over the line.

There was another moment of controversy to come right before the final whistle, Graham Doyle was adjudged to have come outside his box with the ball in his hands and didn’t release it in time. Paddy Kavanaghs resulting free kick floated over the bar, but it was certainly something you don’t see given every day.

Bohs will look to kick on from tonight’s battling performance and continue for a top half finish when they host bottom of the table Longford Town this Friday.
And with games running out quickly, Shane Keegan’s side face a must win game against Bray Wanderers at Ferrycarrig Park but if they show the same passion and determination as they did tonight points wont be that far off.

Bohemian FC: Shane Supple, Derek Pender, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Roberto Lopes, Derek Prendergast, Eoin Wearen, Keith Buckley, Kurtis Byrne (Dan Byrne), Paddy Kavanagh (Jake Kelly), Dean O’ Halloran (Mark Quigley), Ian Morris

Subs: Dean Delany, Marco Chindea, Warren O’Hora, Dylan Hayes

Wexford Youths: Graham Doyle, Lee Grace, Peter Higgins, Danny Furlong, Eric Molloy, Chris Kenny, Aiden Friel (Paul Murphy), Shane Dunne (Andy Mulligan), Stephen Last, Andrew O’Connor, Eoin Porter (Aiden Keenan)

Subs: Corey Chambers, Craig McCabe, John Bonner, Shane Dempsey

Referee: David McKeon

Attendance: 895

“We started the game brightly. But we were loose in possession and gave the ball away too easily. It was a bad night all round.”

Victory against Galway would have seen Bohs move up to sixth. Instead, they dropped to ninth.

Long said: “We’ve dropped two places over the weekend. The table doesn’t make for pretty reading at the moment.

“There is not a lot between five or six teams in the league. We need to get back to winning ways and bridge that gap.

“We have to show a bit of character now and go out and give a performance.”

That will be easier said than done against a Wexford Youths side who took a point from their last league game at Dalymount Park in March.

Bohs have had the upper hand since, winning in the league at Ferrycarrig Park and again in the Leinster Senior Cup final at Dalymount Park last month.

Shane Keegan’s are currently second from bottom, six points clear of bottom side Longford Town and four adrift of 10-placed Finn Harps.

Long said: “They are down the bottom scrapping for points. They’ve worked extremely hard to get into this division and they’re working extremely hard to stay in it.

“We’ve got to show some guts and give a committed performance.”

Bohs welcome back Lorcan Fitzgerald and Derek Prendergast from suspension. Izzy Akinade, however, remains a doubt with illness.

Warren O’Hara and Dean Casey, who helped the Under-19s to a 1-0 win against Longford Town yesterday, could again be included in the senior team.

“It’s a great surface out there now, so it’s a good place for us to go and show what we can do. If we play like we did against St Pat’s in our last away game, we can get a result.”

Before the home defeat against Dundalk a fortnight ago, Bohs were on a run of 10 points from 12 and were unlucky not to extend that unbeaten sequence against the champions and league leaders.

Long said: “We played well in the second half. But that was after we went 2-0 down and obviously you have to ask why we got ourselves in that position in the first place.

“The plan was to take the game to them from the start. Perhaps we were guilty of giving them a little bit too much respect early on.

“We didn’t get enough pressure on the ball in the first half. We changed things around in the second half and started it much better.

“We were perhaps a little naive in not contesting the drop ball that led to Dundalk’s second goal.

“But we showed great character to get back into it. We brought on a second striker in Jake Kelly and went 4-4-2 to give Kurtis Byrne a bit more support.

“That gave us a bit more threat and momentum up front. We brought the game to them and got back into it with a great goal from Kurtis.

“The players and supporters responded to that – the atmosphere was great from both sets of fans. We attacked in droves and were very unlucky not to get the equaliser.”

Byrne’s sensational strike against his former club followed successful free-kicks in the previous two league games against St Patrick’s Athletic and Sligo Rovers.

With seven league goals to his name and 13 in all competitions, he is the club’s top goalscorer this season.

With Ismahil Akinade ruled out through illness in recent weeks, Byrne has found himself in the unfamiliar position of being the team’s main striker.

But it is the quality – not quantity – of his goals that has become a talking point.

Long added: “Kurtis is a scorer of spectacular goals. He has certain qualities that other players in this league don’t have.

“To be fair, he’s started more games than he hasn’t. But he can play and has played in a variety position across the front four, so doesn’t usually lead the line.

“We haven’t always had the clean bill of health required to try Izzy and Kurtis as a No 9 and No 10 pairing this season.

“But Izzy’s absence has seen Kurtis come in at No 9. There are some flaws in his game, so we’ve changed our shape subtly to accommodate him in that position.

“But he has a good work-rate and he’s come in and done very well for us.”

TEAM NEWS

Bohs are once again without Akinade through illness, but are hopeful he may be ready again for Monday’s visit of Wexford Youths to Dalymount Park.

The Gypsies must also plan without defenders Derek Prendergast and Lorcan Fitzgerald through suspension. But skipper Derek Pender returns after a three-week lay-off with a thigh injury.

Under-19 team starlets Warren O’Hora and Dean Casey will again be included in the first-team squad.