“For long periods of the game I thought we played well, and moved the ball well,” said Callaghan. “The early goal was a kick in the teeth but we responded well and we were back in the game for 25 minutes after that. But we didn’t pass and move it as quickly as we would like and we’ve got to work on that.”

That work begins immediately with Monday’s clash with Shelbourne who have, according to Callaghan, been “performing well, but losing by a goal here or there, rather like us at the start of last season”.

The Bohemian manager fully expects Shelbourne to improve.

“They have a lot of experience through the side with players like Glenn Cronin, Paul Crowley, Graham Gartland and Philly Hughes. But then, every team in this league has the potential to turn over any other.”

Bohs and Shels had exactly the same satisfactory result, a scoreless draw, in their recent matches against Shamrock Rovers, suggesting they may be more closely matched than the league points indicate.

In last season’s encounters, the sides won one match each, both away from home, and drew the third match at Dalymount.

Bohemian goalkeeper Dean Delany and defender Stephen Paisley will be making a quick return to Tolka Park after signing from Shelbourne in the off-season. Paisley made his Bohemian debut on Friday as a half-time substitute for Owen Heary.

Heary, a long-serving and inspirational leader at both clubs, will miss this north Dublin derby due to a knee injury which caused that substitution. Chris Lyons remains out for Bohemians with an ankle injury.

Callaghan welcomed back Dave Mulcahy into the Bohs midfield, with Kevin Devaney leading the line in place of the injured Chris Lyons in a 4-5-1 formation.

In a departure from their usual tactics, Sligo played an orthodox 4-4-2, with Cretaro partnering top scorer Elding up front. But for all their quality, the Bit O’Red were gifted the first goal with barely 90 seconds on the clock.

A deep cross by Ross Gaynor was uncharacteristically misjudged by Owen Heary. Cretaro chested the ball over Heary, but it looked like Roberto Lopes was about to clean up. However, both he and Heary seemed to say “after you”, allowing the Tubbercurry Tornado to poke the league leaders in front. A very sloppy goal from a Bohs point of view.

Credit to Callaghan’s side, the early goal didn’t faze them. They played the better football in the opening periods, with the Dalymount pitch noticeably improved from the draw with Shamrock Rovers. While the surface doesn’t quite lend itself to the flowing passing that Callaghan has instilled, a good April’s growth should see the pitch come back to its best.

An equalizer would have been no more than the Gypsies deserved, and Devaney had a golden chance to do just that on the half hour mark. After sterling work from Derek Pender down the right, Stephen Traynor clipped a lovely ball through. Devaney’s shot was at the angle of the six yard box, but he fired wide at the near post instead of shooting across goal.

Just when Bohs were asserting their dominance, another old boy popped up with a sucker punch. Aaron Greene received the ball on the edge of the box from Alan Keane with his back to goal. Their seemed to be little danger with Lopes tight to the winger, but with a quick turn flash of his left boot, Bohs were suddenly two down. His 20 yard effort went in off Dean Delany’s near post. The Bohs keeper had no chance.

Despite the deficit, Bohs continued to play the kind of football that will surely serve them well throughout the season. McEvoy and Traynor were again impressive, with Luke Byrne continuing to show why he’s so well thought of at Dalymount. Half time came at a bad time for Callaghan’s charges who were well on top when the whistle went.

Captain Heary, who had suffered a torrid first half, was replaced by Stephen Paisley for the second period. With a game against Shelbourne on Monday, Bohs will be hoping that the 37 year old’s knock isn’t too serious.

Sligo soaked up all Bohs second half pressure with the experience of Champions. Evan McMillan was particularly solid. Devaney struggled against the former Bohs and UCD defender. Dave Scully arrived to bolster the Bohs attack, but they could do little to break down the Sligo banks of four. The visitors sealed the victory with one final devastating counter in the 70^th minute. Lee Lynch snet Cretaro through down the right, and his delightful clipped cross found Elding un-marked at the back post. The league’s top scorer made no mistake, heading his 8^th goal in 7 games for the Bit O’Red.

Bohs don’t have long to reflect on this defeat, with a Dublin Derby in Tolka Park looming on Easter Monday. The perfect tonic for a team looking to bounce back.

Bohemians: Dean Delany, Derek Pender, Owen Heary (Stephen Paisley, 46), Roberto Lopes (Darragh Hanaphy, 83), Luke Byrne, Keith Buckley, Dave Mulcahy, Stephen Traynor, Ryan McEvoy, Karl Moore (Dave Scully, 59), Kevin Devaney. Subs not used: Greg Murray, Michael Barker, Shane Murray, Ciaran Nangle.

Sligo Rovers: Gary Rogers, Alan Keane, Jeff Henderson, Evan McMillan, Ross Gaynor, Ryan Connolly (Kieran Djallili, 60), David Cawley, Lee Lynch, Aaron Greene (Pascal Millien, 79), Raffaele Cretaro (Liam Martin, 87), Anthony Elding. Subs not used: Ciaran Kelly, Iarfhlaith Davoren, Hugh McFadden, Marty Owens

Bohs Man of the Match: Luke Byrne

The game is live on RTE, and if anything, this will mean Sligo will be over-bet by blind favourite backers. The League Champions are undefeated in 5 trips to Dalymount, have scored at least two in their last 3 league games. On the other hand, under 2.5 goals has been a winner in 6 of the last 7 games between the 2 sides. Form, as we said last week, is not something you should follow blindly. From watching Bohs this season every week, and from watching Sligo’s impressive start to the season on MNS, it is possible to get a grip on these 2 sides and most of us would be confident of predicting a tight game.

Although Sligo would ordinarily have the players to cut any opposition open and create a lot of chances, the weather means that they won’t be able to do this as frequently as they want. You can get 11/4 about the draw with Coral, and it’s a bet that appeals, even though a lot of us won’t expect us to get anything. We’re a pessimistic bunch, but the team that Aaron Callaghan sent out were able to live fairly comfortably with Shamrock Rovers a few weeks ago. Sligo will be tougher again but one thing this Bohs team is able to do quite well is retain possession of the ball. A key attribute when playing against superior opposition.

Elsewhere on the fixture list, there are two favourites that appeal. Shamrock Rovers won easily at home against St Pat’s (although they were gifted their goals) and Linfield. They really should be able to break Cork down and win by a couple. Cork had a moderate enough away record last season, and more of the same probably awaits as 2013 goes on.

We sided with Shelbourne last week, somewhat against everyone’s expectations. This week, they face an extremely tough trip to the Brandywell where they are justified underdogs. Derry have been impressive thus far, running riot against UCD and winning away to Cork, albeit with a late goal. Like the other game mentioned above, this should be a routine home win and can be doubled up.

If ever there was a game to keep a watching brief on, it’s in Limerick where St Pat’s are the visitors. The draw will appeal to many, and it looks to be the result that Pat’s will be collecting a lot this season, potentially costing them another title tilt. It’s not big enough to get involved though, and Limerick will make it tough enough for them so a home win isn’t out of the question by any means.

Recommended: Bohs-Sligo Rovers draw, 1pt 11/4 (Coral); Shamrock (7/10) & Derry City (8/15) (P Power) 1pt Double

Bohemians will show the table-toppers the respect they deserve but Callaghan takes confidence from two close games against Sligo last season, including a scoreless draw at Dalymount.

“Sligo have had a great run in the league and they have had a good Setanta Cup so far but we’re looking for a result from Friday’s game.

“The level of consistency Sligo have maintained is very good. They are able to compete for the best players and they have bought well. They took Evan [McMillan] from us, a really good player, and I was surprised that others didn’t get him.”

For Bohemians, Chris Lyons remains out with an ankle injury from the Shamrock Rovers game that may be more serious than first thought. Shane Fitzgerald has returned to training after an ankle injury.

With newly-signed Stephen Paisley now fully fit, Callaghan has to consider what role he may have, given that the defence with Owen Heary in the centre has proven effective.

But the availability of the experienced Paisley and of Dave Mulcahy is a fillip as Bohemians face Shelbourne next Monday. Callaghan may be calling on more of his squad over the next few days.

Our match-ball sponsor is the ever helpful TOM GERAGHTY, thanks again to Tom for his continued support.

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Nine of Callaghan’s squad have started in all three league games so far. “We have a hard core that we’re going to be working off, week in, week out,” said Callaghan.

“But the other players that are out of the team at the moment are good players and are competing for places and this is making the lads in the team work to stay ahead in terms of fitness and the technical and tactical side of things.”

That competition for places has intensified with the recovery from illness of Stephen Paisley and Kevin Devaney and the availability of Dave Mulcahy (ankle) for the first time since the league campaign started.

But newly signed striker Chris Lyons, who has impressed for Bohemians, is sidelined with an ankle injury sustained in last Monday’s match.

Callaghan admits to some disappointment that Bohemians couldn’t do better than a scoreless draw against Shamrock Rovers. “But it wouldn’t be the first time that 11 men failed to beat 10 because those 10 always seem to work that bit harder,” he observed.

“We tried to open it out and play more expansively but the pitch didn’t help us. We dominated them even when they had eleven. We’re disappointed not to get the win but we’ll take the point.”

Current conditions work against Bohemians playing as they would wish to. “We can’t pass and move the ball as much as we like to, and with pace and accuracy,” said Callaghan. “We’re pleased with what we’re doing in training on the all-weather pitch but we can’t do it in the same way on grass at present.”

The Bohemian manager expects St Patrick’s Athletic to improve this season on last year’s achievements, and he was surprised that they went down 3-0 to Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght. They may have shown their rivals too much respect, he thinks.

Eight of the last nine league games between Bohemians and Pats have been drawn or decided by a single goal either way and another close encounter may be on the cards for Saturday.