Alan Reynolds says Bohemians must channel their frustration to drive them over the line against Sligo Rovers tonight.

Bohs go into the game with their four-point lead on ninth-placed Drogheda United intact after Kevin Doherty’s side lost 1-0 to Shamrock Rovers last night.

Given Bohs’ superior goal difference, a win at the Showgrounds would ensure they avoid the play-off this season.

Reynolds said: “This isn’t where we want to be as a club but the most important thing for us right now is to do what is required to put us out of sight of the play-off.”

Supporters were left frustrated on Monday night when a really encouraging first-half performance against St Patrick’s Athletic ended up counting for nothing as they slumped to a 3-1 defeat.

But that didn’t tell the full story. In a season where Bohs haven’t had much luck, they certainly didn’t have any on Monday as a penalty save, a sending-off and a wicked deflection combined to see them unravel.

Reynolds said: “We were by far the better side in the first half, and we should have been ahead by at least a couple of goals, and obviously Dawson Devoy’s penalty was saved.

“The sending-off of Ross Tierney changed the game completely, and there was a wicked deflection for St Pat’s first goal.

“When you’re a goal down and only have 10 men, you can leave yourself exposed trying to get back into the game and that’s what happened.

“St Pat’s are the form team in the league for the past couple of months. It was their sixth win in a row but we were the better team until the sending-off and I felt that there were an awful lot of positives to take from our performance.

“It’s another defeat, and we’ve had far too many of them this season, particularly at home. Nobody is shying away from that.

“But what I will say is that we were excellent until those turning points, and the quality and intensity of our performance in the first half is exactly the standard we are striving for and want to maintain.”

Bohs have drawn, won and lost to Sligo across their three previous meeting this season, but Reynolds says his side are traveling to the Showgrounds this evening in confidence.

Reynolds added: “Sligo’s last two results have been draws against the top two in the league so there is no doubt that they are a good side but we are going there in confidence too.

“There’s a frustration among the players that our first half performance against St Pat’s counted for nothing so we need to use that frustration to drive us forward against Sligo.

“We’ve gone to the Showgrounds and won this season and they’ve come to Dalymount and won this season so I expect another open game with both sides going for it.”

Team news

Ross Tierney is suspended, while Bohemians continue to be without the injured Leigh Kavanagh, James Akintunde, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley. Martin Miller has returned from international duty with Estonia.

Alan Reynolds says he was pleased with the reaction of his players away to Derry City on Friday but says they need to build on that when the league’s in-form side St Patrick’s Athletic come to Dalymount Park tomorrow night.

Bohs went to the Brandywell two days ago to take on Derry City on the back of a bruising 2-0 Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup semi-final defeat against the same opposition a week previously.

Reynolds’ side played some good stuff in the first half, with a neat finish from Archie Meekison after 20 minutes giving them a deserved lead.

They were pegged back by Pat Hoban just after the hour-mark, but Reynolds was pleased with how his players responded after a difficult week.

Reynolds said: “It was a real game of two halves and ultimately I was pleased with our performances in both halves for different reasons.

“In the first half, I was pleased because we showed real quality. Having played the same side on our home patch a week previously, I was deeply frustrated with that performance and how despite having so much possession, we failed to test their keeper.

“But I think in the first half we showed we have quality, and we showed we are capable of putting it up to top teams.

“In the second half, I was pleased with the players for a different reason. I was pleased because they showed a grit and determination that has too often eluded us this season. Derry came after us and they have real quality in their team to do so, but I felt that we battled for everything.

“Ultimately on another day it’s a game we could have won. Derry should have had a man sent off and with that I think we would have had enough about us to win the game.

“In isolation it is a good result. The Brandywell has always been a difficult place for any team to get a result so we are pleased to get a result.

“But it’s also another draw for us where I feel we could have won the game. That’s our tenth draw in the league this season and when we look back we know we have left a lot of points behind us in games we were capable of winning.

“That has been one of the disappointing aspects of this season, that we have had a platform in games where we are right in it to win but haven’t had enough about us to put teams away.”

Friday’s result, coupled with Drogheda United’s 0-0 draw away to Waterford, maintained Bohs’ four-point gap ahead of ninth place.

But standing in their way of extending that advantage tomorrow night is a St Patrick’s Athletic team unbeaten in the league since July and who have won their last five games.

Former Ireland manager Stephen Kenny has overseen a total turnaround in fortunes since a shaky start to his reign. Qualification for Europe is now within their grasp, and they are already being tipped as contenders for next season.

Reynolds added: “Listen they are a quality side. I expect an entertaining game, and I expect it to be open.

“They’re in the hunt for Europe and will be coming here with their tails up after a brilliant run. We know where we are at in the table, so we need to build on the positives of Friday and give absolutely everything of ourselves again.”

Team news

Bohemians continue to be without the injured Leigh Kavanagh, James Akintunde, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley, while Martin Miller is available once more.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians’ inability to break down Derry City last week was an all-too familiar story of their season.

Bohs had an opportunity to salvage something from a disappointing season when they hosted Derry City at Dalymount Park in an FAI Cup semi-final but fell well short of the performance required as Ruaidhrí Higgins’ side ran out comfortable 2-0 winners.

A brace from Michael Duffy was the difference between the sides but Reynolds concedes it was all too easy for the Candystripes, and that Bohs failed to rise to the occasion.

Bohs had good reason to be aggrieved with Derry’s opener, with the referee awarding the softest of free-kicks five minutes before half-time, which Duffy duly rifled home.

But the frustrating reality is that they never looked like getting back in the game in the 58 minutes that followed.

It doesn’t get any easier for Bohs tomorrow as they travel to Foyleside to take on the same league and cup double-chasing opposition once more, this time on their home patch.

Reynolds said: “It was an extremely frustrating night for our supporters to say the least. We had well over 60% possession but we huffed and puffed with it, and we never tested their goalkeeper.

“That’s just not good enough. We know we are lacking an out-and-out striker but players need to step up to the challenge and we didn’t do that on Friday.

“It has been a disappointing season for the club. Last Friday was an opportunity to salvage something for ourselves and for our supporters, and there’s no shying away from the fact that we fell well short of what was required. In a cup semi-final, you have to be so much better than that.

“The supporters are obviously deflated. We wanted to give them something back after the season we’ve had but we didn’t live up to the occasion.

“We’ve seen in flashes this season when we give them something to cheer about that they respond to that and get right behind us but we didn’t give them anything to cheer about last week. That has been too often the case, so the frustration is well understood by all of us.

“Their opening goal was obviously a killer, we didn’t feel it should have been a free-kick but we allowed our heads to drop instead of fighting back. We didn’t do anywhere near enough to try get back into the game, and we have all had to reflect on that and we need to learn fast from that.”

That need to learn fast cannot be overstated with Bohs, currently in eighth position, in a battle for points to remain ahead of Drogheda United.

Reynolds said: “We have a big couple of weeks ahead of us. It will obviously take supporters a long time to get over the disappointment of last week, and that’s on all of us.

“But as a team and backroom team, we don’t have that time. We don’t have time to feel sorry for ourselves.

“We can’t turn back the clock on what’s gone before us this season. We are in a battle between now and the end of the year. There’s no hiding place, and to a man we have to stand up and be counted.”

Team news

Bohemians are without the injured Leigh Kavanagh, James Akintunde, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley, while Martin Miller is away on international duty with Estonia.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians are going to have to give absolutely everything of themselves on and off the pitch to get past Derry City in their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup semi-final tomorrow.

Beaten finalists in 2021 and 2023, Bohs go into the game looking to salvage their season with a date at the Aviva Stadium on Sunday November 10 against Drogheda United or Wexford on offer for tomorrow’s victors.

But despite being at home at Dalymount Park, the bookies have Reynolds’ side as the underdogs for this last-four tie against Ruaidhrí Higgins’ Candystripes who, just four points off table-toppers Shelbourne, are very much eyeing up a league and cup double.

Reynolds: “There is no doubting the size of the challenge ahead of us. Derry on their day are the best team in the league so, to a man, we will have to give absolutely everything of ourselves.

“We haven’t had the season we want in the league, so this is a massive opportunity for us to achieve something this year.

“This is where we want to be, and want to be regularly; in high-pressure games against the best teams in the league with prizes on the line. That is what we are all working towards and we have to seize the opportunity that is in front of us tomorrow.

“To do that we need to be at our very best from the first whistle. Against a team as good as Derry, we need to be ruthless in possession, in winning back possession, and show a killer instinct in front of goal that has evaded us too often this season.

“Our players go into this game with that determination. We know how good Derry are but we have shown that when we are at our very best, and have that vocal backing of our supporters, that we are capable of beating the best teams in this league.

“In the first round of this competition we were underdogs against Shamrock Rovers and with our players and supporters pulling together in the right direction, we pulled through.

“That’s the level we need tomorrow, and more again. We need everyone on and off the pitch giving everything of ourselves.

“We need Dalymount hopping, because as we have seen before, that can be the difference in games of such high intensity like this.”

Bohs come into this game having got back to winning ways against Oriel Park last week. Coming on the back of frustrating 1-0 defeats to Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers, that victory was important to lift the mood ahead of tomorrow’s semi-final but also to maintain the four-point gap between ninth-placed Drogs.

After a disappointing first half, Bohs looked a different side in the second with a super strike from Dawson Devoy settling nerves as Reynolds’ men ended up comfortable 2-0 winners.

He added: “We weren’t happy with our first half performance, Dundalk shaded it and had chances. The pitch didn’t help us but we still needed to be better. As I said after the game, we rode our luck but maybe we were due a slice of luck.

“I felt that we were much improved in the second half. Dawson’s goal was a moment of real quality that set the tone, and we could and probably should have won by more in the end.

“We needed that win. Where we are in the table, we need to maintain that gap ahead of Drogheda as they have shown what they are capable of over the last few weeks and months, but it was a needed lift heading into tomorrow’s game too.”

Team news

Jordan Flores returns but James Akintunde, Leigh Kavanagh and Alex Greive are doubts. James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians have a fight on their hands and they have to rise to the challenge.

Successive defeats in the past week against Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers has Bohs looking over their shoulder once more.

Conceding an 84th minute goal to lose 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium was a bitter pill to swallow and Bohs need to start getting points on the board, with ninth-placed Drogheda just four points behind them.

Reynolds said: “We said last week that losing to Drogheda last week has given us a big job to do and that remains the case.

“We have a fight on our hands and as a group we have to rise to that challenge.

“The players were obviously very disappointed on Monday against Rovers. There was no lack of effort from our players on Monday but there was a lack of killer instinct.

“We had players in the squad who’d been sick for a few days. Leigh Kavanagh came off sick against Drogheda and was too sick to play, and there were others like James Clarke in the same boat who didn’t recover in time to play.

“It was something that went through a few players in the squad and it affected them but they gave everything of themselves and they were out on their feet by the end.

“We lacked the killer instinct in front of goal you need against sides as good as Rovers. We had to be clinical but we weren’t. We have to find that killer instinct.

“We are under no illusions of the position we are in. We have to come out fighting to get points on the board.”

Tonight’s trip to Oriel Park will be Dundalk’s first home game since a last-minute change in ownership prevented the club going out of business less than a fortnight ago.

Reynolds added: “It will be an emotional night for them I’m sure after a difficult few weeks for the club.

“We have to block all of that out. We have an important job to do and we need everyone pulling in the same direction to ensure we get the result we need.”

Team news

Bohemians are without Leigh Kavanagh, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley. Jordan Flores is a doubt but Filip Piszczek could return to the squad.

Alan Reynolds is demanding a response from his Bohemians players in the Dublin Derby away to Shamrock Rovers tomorrow evening.

After improvements in performances and results in recent weeks, eighth-placed Bohs squandered a golden opportunity to put some distance between them and ninth-placed Drogheda United on Friday night.

Frantz Pierrot’s first-half goal was enough for Kevin Doherty’s men to claim victory, which closed the gap between the sides to five points.

Reynolds said: “We went into Friday’s game on the back of a positive few weeks and knowing what was at stake so our performance was very disappointing.

“We didn’t start the game in the way we set out to do. We weren’t good enough in that first 25-minute spell and we allowed Drogheda to punish us by not dealing with a ball at the back post, which gave them something to hold on to and to frustrate us.

“Despite our performance not being where it needed to be, we had more than enough chances to level the game and push on.

“We just can’t be passing up that amount of chances in this league. There was no lack of effort, but we simply have to be more clinical in front of goal.

“It was a frustrating night for us all round, particularly because we had been improving in recent weeks.

“We know it was a lost opportunity for us to put some breathing space between ourselves and Drogheda. That has given us a lot of work to do, so there needs to be a response from all of us.”

Reynolds’ men haven’t had much time to dwell on what went wrong, with focus quickly turning to tomorrow’s trip to Tallaght Stadium.

But they know there will need to be a big improvement at what has not been a happy hunting ground for Bohs sides in recent years, with their last victory at the Dublin 24 venue coming in 2019.

They do, however, come into this game on the back of beating Stephen Bradley’s side in their last two meetings, both at Dalymount Park; first in the FAI Cup in July and then in the league earlier this month.

Reynolds added: “We have shown we can beat them and we will be going to Tallaght very much in that mindset.

“On the pitch and in the stands we have risen to the occasion against the Dublin clubs over the past month but we are under no illusions that this is going to be the most difficult one yet.”

Team news

Bohemians are without the suspended Jordan Flores. Leigh Kavanagh, forced off on Friday due to illness, remains a doubt but Adam McDonnell could return.

James McManus, Filip Pisczek, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians have been approaching tomorrow’s game against Drogheda United as being the biggest game of their season so far.

Reynolds’ side have had a positive few weeks, progressing to the semi-final of the FAI Cup, winning a Dublin derby and drawing twice with league leaders Shelbourne.

It has been a welcome period after a disappointing league campaign this season, but Reynolds insists his side cannot rest on their laurels and has demanded further improvements.

He said: “For me this is the biggest game of the season so far and that’s how we have approached it all week.

“Drogheda have shown what they are capable of in the last while. They’re in the semi-finals of the cup, have had some really good and have scored a lot of goals in the process. They have good players and they have a system that works really well for them.

“So this is a massive game for us to see where we are. We have had some really good performances ourselves over the past number of weeks but we are striving to improve further still.

“You can’t have a good few weeks and be content with that. We have to keep improving, we have to keep striving to turn those draws into wins.”

Bohs come into this game buoyed by their biggest win of the season, a 4-0 victory away to UCD in the FAI Cup with a brace from Ross Tierney and late goals from Alex Greive and Martin Miller.

Bohs dominated the opening period to the extent that they would have been frustrated that it took them until the 34rd minute but in the end it was a comprehensive result, and a sense that lessons had been learned from the previous round’s lucky escape against Kerry.

Reynolds said: “We scored four goals and secured a clean sheet last week. We were dominant early in the game but for all the chances we had, it took us a while to make the breakthrough so we still need to be more clinical.

“But it was a professional performance. We know how difficult it can be in cup ties from the previous round, so we’re delighted with the result and the support we had from out there too.

“It would have been easy for the fans to get frustrated when it took us a little longer than we had hoped to get a breakthrough but they stuck with us, and the players responded to that encouragement and thankfully were able to reward it with a really strong win in the end.”

Team news

Dawson Devoy returns from suspension. Adam McDonnell (ankle) is close to a return but this game will come too early for him, while James McManus is ruled out with a knock.

Filip Piszczek (ankle), Keith Buckley (knee) and Rob Cornwall (knee) remain out.

Our Sports Direct FAI Men’s Cup semi-final tie against Derry City has today been confirmed for Friday October 4, 7.45pm, at Dalymount Park.

A reminder to all members, season ticket holders and Junior Gypsies that you must purchase a match ticket for this game.

Membership cards, season tickets and Junior Gypsies cards are not valid for any cup games – they are only valid for league games.

Please note that, from noon tomorrow/Thursday, members, season ticket holders and Junior Gypsies will have a 24-hour exclusive window until noon Friday to purchase match tickets for this game from tickets.bohemians.ie.

You will need the five-character code from your membership card/season ticket/Junior Gypsies card to purchase your match ticket.

You may only purchase one ticket per card, and the ticket type you select (adult/student/concession/child) must, without exception, correspond to your membership/season ticket category.

Please note that should you input your 5-letter code and select a ticket but close the page before completing payment, you will be unable to resubmit your code for a period of 15 minutes.

All remaining tickets will go on general sale at noon on Friday.

Meanwhile, the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division game against St Patrick’s Athletic, postponed due to the FAI Cup semi-final, will now take place on Monday October 14, with tickets going on sale tomorrow at noon.

Queries? Please contact tickets@bohemians.ie.

Alan Reynolds says Bohemians’ performances in recent weeks are a cause of optimism but says they will have to improve even further to get past UCD in their Sports Direct Men’s FAI Cup quarter-final at the UCD Bowl tomorrow.

Bohs go into the game after what many fans feared would be a gruelling run of league fixtures, with home and away encounters against table toppers Shelbourne sandwiched either side of a Dublin derby against Shamrock Rovers.

But Bohs shared the points with Shels on both occasions, and claimed all three at home to Rovers.

Reynolds’ side went into that run under pressure on the back of a bruising 3-2 home defeat against Waterford having led 2-0, and needed penalties to get past Kerry in their last-16 tie in the FAI Cup.

And that result in Tralee alone will have focused the minds ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Belfield to take on William O’Connor’s Students, who are flying high in the First Division in second place, eyeing promotion through the play-offs and who went to the Showgrounds and claimed a 2-0 win against Sligo Rovers in the last round.

Reynolds said: “We are pleased with our performances over the last number of weeks but there is nobody in there patting ourselves on the back.

“We still have a lot of work to do, and we were disappointed we couldn’t turn those draws against Shelbourne into wins because I think we are top in both.

“But they were very good performances, with a lot of good play and positives to take out of all three games, and I think that our supporters can see now what we are capable of and we are all working towards.

“This will be another difficult game though. We are coming up against a very good team in UCD, and we will have to improve our performances even further because they are a confident side, in good form and flying high in the First Division.

“They have excellent young players and they have experience there too. You only have to look at their result away to Sligo Rovers in the last round to see how good they are, so we have analysed them extensively, and we know we will have to respect them.

“They are at home, they will have looked back at our game against Kerry and will be looking at this game as another big opportunity for them, so it is up to us to be at the very top of our game.”

Reynolds will be without the suspended Dawson Devoy after he picked up yellow cards in both the previous rounds as the FAI today confirmed that the Independent Appeal Committee rejected Shamrock Rovers’ latest appeal regarding his eligibility for Bohs’ second-round win in July.

But Bohs will also be without midfielder Adam McDonnell and striker Filip Piszczek, who are both sidelined with ankle injuries, with Reynolds adding: “It’s disappointing for both of them. Adam has been a really important player for us over the last while, and he’s been really in form.

“He was forced off against Shels last week and the good news is that it is not as bad as it looked on the night, but he will still be out for a number of weeks, and it is a big blow for us losing a player of his quality.

“It’s very unfortunate for Filip too. He got a really important goal for us against Shamrock Rovers two weeks ago and he wanted to build on that but he took a knock to his ankle later in the game and unfortunately that is going to rule him out for a number of weeks now too.

“So we are missing important players in Dawson, Adam and Filip, and we need those who come into the team to step up to the challenge now. We’ve had a positive couple of weeks but we need to build on that.

“We’ll bring another massive crowd over with us for this game and everyone comes into the team, and everyone on the pitch and off it, knows how big this game is for us. We all have our part to play.”

Team news

Dawson Devoy is suspended, and Bohemians are also without Adam McDonnell and Filip Piszczek, who are both suffering with ankle injuries. Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.

The Bohemians breakfast club had Dalymount Park rocking on Sunday morning and Alan Reynolds is hoping his side can build on that when they host Shelbourne at the more familiar time of 7.45pm on Friday night.

Sunday’s 11.30am kick-off saw Bohs claim the Dublin derby bragging rights when they came from behind to beat Shamrock Rovers 2-1 with goals from Ross Tierney and Filip Piszczek.

That win was a long time coming and the final whistle was met with delight and relief, but Bohs will have their work cut out to build on it when league leaders Shelbourne make the short trip from Drumcondra to provide the opposition at Dalymount Park.

The sides drew 1-1 at Tolka Park just a fortnight ago, with Reynolds’ men frustrated that they couldn’t find a winner.

But Reynolds expects Shels to come bursting out of the traps early at Dalymount tomorrow and said: “Listen, this is going to be a really tough test for us. Shelbourne are top of the league for a reason and I expect that they will come to Dalymount to have a real go at us.

“They are not going to come here to sit off, they’ll come and attack us, so we have to be ready for that.

“We have had a couple of really good performances now and we performed well against them two weeks ago but we will have to be better than that again because Shelbourne have real quality that can hurt you.”

After a difficult season in the league, the draw against Shelbourne and win against Rovers have been causes for optimism.

Reynolds said: “We have players who believe and buy in to what we are trying to do and what we are building towards.

“That hasn’t been easy when results were not going our way but I have to give credit to the group, they keep working harder and harder every week.

“They really wanted to give the fans something to cheer about on Sunday and obviously winning a Dublin derby has given everyone a lift, fans and players.

“That’s what we want every week – we want it to be a springboard for us between now and the end of the season so it’s important now that we continue to build and grow.

“But our players are flying in training, a derby win is the confidence boost and shot in the arm that we needed and one that I think our players deserved.

“We rode our luck at times but we grew into the game and we had our supporters behind us egging us on again, which is really important.

“The winner came from two substitutes too, which was pleasing as it shows that we have players who can come in and make a difference when games are in the balance.

“It was a massive goal for Filip, and he will want to build on that now, but it was a perfect cross into him from Jordan too, and it was great to have him back in the team.

“Those two are obviously champing at the bit to start now, and we have James Akintunde back this week too so we have options, and as a group there is a determination there and a belief in what we are trying to achieve.”

Team news

Martin Miller is away on international duty with Estonia, but James Akintunde returns from injury.

Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley remain out.