“We cannot feel sorry for ourselves”
April 21, 2016
DERRY CITY v BOHEMIANS
SSE Airtricity League, The Brandywell, Friday 22 April 2016, 7.45pm
Keith Long has challenged his Bohemians side to “go out and restore some pride” at The Brandywell on Friday.
The Gypsies are licking their wounds after successive defeats against the club’s two oldest Dublin rivals.
Last Friday’s 4-0 league loss to Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount was compounded three days later when, having been frustrated 0-0 after extra time, Bohs were dumped out of the EA Sports Cup on penalties against Shelbourne at Tolka Park.
Long said: “It’s been a bad week. We were obviously particularly disappointed with the result against Rovers. We know that the result and scoreline weren’t acceptable.
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“Everyone is hurting, but we cannot feel sorry for ourselves. We’ve got to pick ourselves up, go to Derry and put in a fighting performance and show some character.”
Although Friday’s scoreline suggested Rovers dominance, Bohs can be forgiven for wondering what might have been.
The better team for much of opening half, the home side were dismantled by some clinical Rovers finishing a minute either side of half-time.
Long said: “The timing of the goals killed us. For the opener, it was a needless free-kick to give away in a dangerous position and we got punished.
“We came back out after the break in a positive mind and straight away hit the crossbar. Then Rovers go down the other end, hit us with a sucker-punch and we are left chasing the game.”
Trailing in the same fixture at the same venue last season, Bohs changed from a 4-5-1 to a 4-4-2 formation, substituting a midfielder, Jake Hyland, for a striker, Dean Kelly. The move saw the home side score three goals in the final 15 minutes to clinch a 3-1 win.
Losing 2-0 down last Friday, Bohs made similar tactical switch, with midfielder Keith Buckley making way for striker Kurtis Byrne on 56 minutes.
Long said: “We brought on a second striker and sacrificed a midfielder to try get a goal back and get back into the game.
“We did something similar in the same fixture last season and it worked for us. We tried it last week and it didn’t work. Chasing the game, we left ourselves exposed and were punished.”
A determined performance saw Bohs look to make amends against Shels on Monday. But after large spells of dominance and countless goal-scoring opportunities, the Gypsies failed to find the net and came unstuck in a penalty shootout.
Long said: “The week went from bad to worse. Anything can happen in a penalty shootout but it was very frustrating as we created more than enough chances – both in normal time and in extra time – to win comfortably.”
The Gypsies won’t have it any easier when they travel to face high-flying Derry City. Long’s side won all three fixtures against the Candystripes last season, including two victories at The Brandywell.
But under new manager Kenny Shiels, Derry are a different animal this year, occupying second place and just two points off defending champions Dundalk.
Long said: “It’s going to be a very difficult game for us. Derry are in really good form, have some really good players and have made The Brandywell a fortress again.”
Once again, Bohs’ options have been disrupted by both illness and injury. Ismahil Akinade and Jason Caffrey are both ruled out with hamstring injuries.
There was, however, some good news with Dylan Hayes, whose injury against Shels held the game up for 12 minutes, discharged quickly from hospital on Monday night. Hayes said: “It was nothing too serious – just an elbow to the head and all precautions had to be taken.”
Of more concern is the flu-like virus which has affected several members of the squad over the past month, including Hayes.
Hayes and Jake Kelly played through the symptoms on Monday, but the former is not considered well enough for tomorrow.
Ayman Ben Mohamed and captain Derek Pender, both now suffering with the bug, are also regarded as doubtful for the trip.
Eoin Wearen, Dave Mulcahy and Jake Kelly have all sat out games at various stages with the same virus, while Roberto Lopes was also affected.