“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.

Referee Paul McLaughlin, however, adjudged that Prendergast had made the tackle and consequently he was shown a second yellow card much to the fury of the away bench and travelling supporters.

Bohs didn’t let this set back curtail their attacking threat though as Keith Buckley attempted a half-volley from 40 yards out.

Right on half-time, Drogheda were awarded a penalty. A ball over the defence was controlled by Stephen Maher and Maher and Anto Murphy both went over in the box. To the disbelief of the Bohs players and the large Bohs contingent, the linesman flagged for a penalty. This was in spite of Maher appearing to control the ball with his hand initially and then falling over.

However, Delany brilliantly saved Kavanagh’s spot-kick, which was struck to his right and the sides went in level at the break.

Bohs grew into the game in the second half despite their numerical disadvantage. First Robbie Creevy went agonisingly close with a header and then Anto Murphy tried a Juan Mata-esque scissor kick but alas that was closer to troubling the graveyard behind the ground rather than Schlingermann in the Drogheda goal.

Soon after, Dean Kelly was played trough on the right and his goal bound effort was cleared off the line.

Drogheda then stepped up the pressure although without causing too many problems for the Bohs defence. This pressure almost paid off for Drogheda in the 86th minute. A ball into the box was punched clear by Delany but only to the edge of the box and Lee Duffy’s lob was cleared onto the crossbar by Fitzgerald and unbelievably Kavanagh blasted the rebound over the bar.

Straight after, Griffin – a league winner with Dundalk last season – sent the away end into pandemonium.

He was played through on the right and fired the ball past Schlingermann at his near hand post and sparked scenes of jubilation amongst the travelling Gypsies. After a few anxious minutes the final whistle went and Bohs secured the three points.

Next up for fourth-placed Bohs is the double visit of Longford Town to Dalymount Park next week. Keith Long’s side face The Town on Tuesday in the EA Sports Cup and then again on Friday in the league.

Long will wait to see how his squad comes through Friday’s game in Drogheda before considering whether to make changes for the EA Sports Cup tie against Longford Town on Tuesday – three days before the two teams meet again in the league. “It’s not ideal that we have to play Longford Town twice, but that’s how the draw worked out,” he said.

Anto Murphy is available again, having missed the Shamrock Rovers game through suspension. 18-year-old Stephen Best came in for Murphy and won plaudits for his performance.

The ex-Crumlin United defender is one of the assets that Long will manage carefully. Best still has commitments to the under-19 side, now in the quarter-finals of the championship.

“Stephen is a player we have high hopes for. We have to manage his game-time for the benefit of Stephen and the team. He has a big-game mentality for someone so young and he has a good temperament. He fully justified his selection, making his full league debut against Shamrock Rovers,” the Bohemian manager said.

“If he continues to work hard, and keeps his feet on the ground, he can only improve as a player. But we are pleased with his progress to date.”

Dave Mulcahy (calf) and Dan Byrne (cruciate) remain sidelined through injury. But Mulcahy has returned to training and is already showing his influence on the players around him, according to Long.

Byrne is doing non-contact training, as he recovers from long-term injury. But he will not be rushed back, Long insists.

Long made just one enforced change from Tuesday night’s frustrating encounter with Dundalk. 18 year-old Best came in for the suspended Anto Murphy, and put in a performance that showed an amazing level of maturity and composure from such a young man. Although Rovers manager Pat Fenlon predictably started with just one striker, Best and Derek Prendergast kept in-form Mikey Drennan very quiet all night.

As is customary with these derby matches, the game was played at a helter-skelter pace. Bohs had the better of the possession in the first half, but could create little in the way of chances. There seemed to be a slight panic in the play from both sides, with a ‘nothing silly’ option being taken 90 per cent of the time. This was an understandable position for Bohs, but Fenlon’s Hoops were particularly poor. Keith Fahey and Stephen McPhail may have 28 international caps between them, but they were outfought and out-battled by Roberto Lopes and Robbie Creevy in midfield. Lopes was particularly good breaking up Rovers play, and was ridiculously booked for a pinpoint tackle on Sean O’Connor.

Unfortunately, Bohs’ only half-chance came just before the break. Derek Pender’s cross bounced off Adam Evans and fell kindly for Dean Kelly, but the striker’s volley was well blocked by David Webster. At the other end, Rovers’ only effort on target in the first half came from a late Conor Kenna header, but it was comfortable for Delany.

Rovers were clearly given an earful from Fenlon at the break, as they came out much more composed in the second period. The Bohs backline held firm, with Best outstanding. The youngster was commanding in the air, controlled in possession, and positioned himself like an old pro.

The game was trundling toward a chance-less disappointment, but a flurry of late action brought the best out of Delany, and further irked the naturally belligerent Rovers faithful. The Hoops improved greatly with the introduction of Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters and the considerable bulk of Danny North, and with twelve minutes to go, Waters crossed for Ryan Brennan, whose header was brilliantly clawed away by Delany.

Then, in the 81st minute, an almighty scramble in the Bohs box followed a corner. Delany saved low to his left from North, and the defence somehow got the ball clear when Rovers looked certain to score rebounds on two occasions. Their final chance came in injury time, when Waters’ back post cross found Drennan, but his header looped agonizingly onto the top of the bar, and out for a goal kick. The Bohs manager’s clenched-fist celebrations after the game said it all – this was a hard won point at a ground where most will be beaten this season.

Shamrock Rovers:  Craig Hyland, Simon Madden, Dave Webster, Conor Kenna, David O’Connor, Sean O’Connor (Kieran ‘Marty’ Waters, 70), Pat Cregg, Stephen McPhail (Ryan Brennan, 60), Keith Fahey, Gary McCabe (Danny North, 84), Michael Drennan. Subs not used: Barry Murphy, Maxime Blanchard, Gavin Brennan, Gareth McCaffrey.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Stephen Best, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Paddy Kavanagh, Roberto Lopes, Robbie Creevy, Adam Evans (Karl Moore, 75), Keith Buckley (Kealan Dillon, 61) Dean Kelly (Jason Byrne, 79). Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Adam Wixted, Marc Griffin, Dylan Hayes.

BohemianFC.com Man of the Match: Stephen Best

“We want to give a good account of ourselves. That’s what our supporters want to see. They want to see us trying to play football, they want to see the honesty and the work-rate that we saw on Tuesday. If we get that, then we can’t ask for any more from the players.”

Although the result against Dundalk was disappointing, the manager took a lot of positives from the performance, which saw the Gypsies threatening for long periods.

“There’s no shame in defeat to Dundalk. The scoreline was a little skewed in that we constantly went for it throughout the game. We had a go at them and I don’t think 3-0 was a fair reflection,” he said.

The home side created a number of chances against the Lilywhites on Tuesday and Long has stressed the importance of capitalising on opportunities, especially in big games. “Goals win games, and we’ve got to be clinical in front of goal. Having said that, I’d be a little bit more worried if we weren’t creating the chances.”

Finally, the Bohs boss is expecting full commitment from his charges on the big stage. He added: “The players have set a minimum standard for themselves that when they cross the line in that red and black shirt, that they give absolutely everything. I expect no different on Friday night.”

Bohs have no fresh injury worries ahead of the game with Pat Fenlon’s Hoops. Long-term absentees Dan Byrne (cruciate) and Dave Mulcahy (calf) remain on the sidelines, while Anto Murphy is suspended following his dismissal against Dundalk.

After three games with the same starting eleven, boss Long made just one change to the starting line-up for the visit of Stephen Kenny’s men. Robbie Creevy replaced Kealan Dillon in central midfield, as Bohs embarked on their second of three games in a six-day period. Perhaps surprisingly, Bohs actually dominated possession in the opening quarter, but struggled to create chances from open play. The ball was being presented back to Dundalk at regular intervals, which is always dangerous with their counter-attacking potential.

The first big incident of note was a penalty shout in the 11th minute. Adam Evans’ cross bounced up off Brian Gartland’s thigh onto his left arm. Gartland’s arm was away from his body, and the ball clearly struck it. However, referee Derek Tomney was in no mood to point to the spot, and this was the first of many decisions from the man in black that irked the Bohs fans and bench alike.

Bohs’ best opportunities in the first half came from set pieces. Lorcan Fitzgerald’s deliveries were absolutely perfect on more than one occasion, and Dundalk had a huge amount of luck in keeping a clean sheet. First, Anto Murphy rattled the bar from an inswinging corner. The ball looped into the air, and was almost turned in acrobatically by Derek Prendergast, but his effort trundled wide. Fitzgerald was again the provider of Bohs’ next best chance. This time, his wickedly whipped free kick took a slight deflection off a Dundalk head before evading Prendergast and Dean Kelly by inches. A touch from either would have opened the scoring.

With clean sheets in all 5 competitive games so far, it was going to take either a moment of brilliance or a scruffy, unlucky goal to breach the Bohs defence. Sadly, it was the latter. After a corner was cleared, Daryl Horgan played head tennis with the Bohs defence, and his second looped header found David McMillan at the back post. McMillan headed it tamely toward goal, but the ball took two deflections and dribbled over the line. Dundalk headed for half time with a fortunate 1-0 lead.

The Champions were lacklustre, and probably couldn’t believe their luck when referee Tomney intervened to spoil what was turning into an intriguing contest. Anto Murphy had been deservedly booked in the first half for a clumsy lunge at Darren Meenan, but his second yellow was as soft as they come. On the edge of the Bohs box, Murphy’s sliding challenge on John Mountney was executed perfectly. He took ball first, then man. It was a strong challenge, but Mountney’s theatrical fall and scream may well have been the deciding factor. His initial writhing stopped when it became clear that Murphy was about to get a second yellow, but the damage was done.

Rather than capitulate being a man and a goal down, Bohs actually increased their pressing and pressure after Murphy’s dismissal. It was a stirring second half performance, with full-blooded commitment from back to front. Long sent on Marc Griffin and Jason Byrne to try and salvage a point, and they almost fashioned an equaliser with 15 minutes left. The tireless Derek Pender whipped in a delightful cross that fell onto Griffin’s toe 8 yards out, but the former Dundalk man couldn’t generate any power, and Gary Rogers was able to paw it clear.

With Bohs committing men forward, a counter-attack sucker punch was always possible, and Dundalk ruthlessly closed out the game in the last few minutes. First, in the 83rd minute, the excellent Horgan sped down the right, and put Richie Towell through. Towell unselfishly squared to substitute Jake Kelly, who side-footed in the second. Then, with 4 minutes remaining, Darren Meenan grabbed the third with a low shot that had too much power for Dean Delany.

0-3 is a scoreline that greatly flatters Dundalk, but the reaction of the Bohs fans at the end of the game said it all. The team were roundly applauded off the field, with a faint chant of ‘Bring on the Rovers’ in their ears. There is no better game to bounce back from a defeat than a trip to Tallaght. Friday night is already close.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Derek Prendergast, Anto Murphy, Lorcan Fitzgerald, Paddy Kavanagh (Kealan Dillon), Roberto Lopes, Robbie Creevy, Adam Evans, Keith Buckley (Marc Griffin) Dean Kelly (Jason Byrne). Subs not used: Lee Steacy, Karl Moore, Jake Hyland, Dylan Hayes.

Dundalk: Gary Rodgers, Sean Gannon, Brian Gartland, Andy Boyle, Dane Massey, Chris Shields, John Mountney (Darren Meenan, 63), Richie Towell, Ronan Finn (Kurtis Byrne, 76), Daryl Horgan, David McMillan (Jake Kelly, 80). Subs not used: Gabriel Sava, Ciaran O’Connor, Shane Grimes, Paddy Barrett.

Mr. Green Bohemian Man of the Match: Lorcan Fitzgerald