SSE Airtricity League
Friday October 29 2021
Ryan McBride Stadium, 7.45pm
Exclusively live on LOITV.ie
Bohemians travel to the Brandywell this evening looking to do what they failed to do on Monday night – leapfrog Derry City into fourth place in the table.
Derry’s defeat to Drogheda United last Friday gave Bohs the opportunity to move ahead of them when Waterford came to Dalymount Park on Monday.
But missed chances and poor defending saw Bohs succumb to a 2-1 defeat to the side they had beaten in the FAI Cup semi-final just three days previously.
It was a frustrating night for the Gypsies but defender Ciarán Kelly says the team have dusted themselves down and are fully focused on making amends against Rúaidhrí Higgins’ Candystripes this evening.
He said: “Monday certainly wasn’t our best performance. We had chances to win the game but we didn’t take them and we didn’t defend well enough.
“It is a strange season where there is only nine points between third and second from bottom.
“It is up to us now to get as many points as we can from our last five games and finish as high up the table as we can.
“The aim is to qualify for Europe through the league, and to go into the FAI Cup final in form.
“We got a lot of plaudits for our performances in Europe this season but the challenge for all of us is to make sure we are there again next season.”
Getting a result on Foyleside is never easy but it will be all the more difficult this time around as the Gypsies are missing several key men.
Keith Buckley (groin), vice-captain Rob Cornwall (ankle), Liam Burt (knee), Stephen Mallon (hip) and Georgie Kelly (calf) are all ruled out.
But Kelly has challenged those who are afforded an opportunity as a result of those absences to seize the day.
He added: “We have a squad for a reason. We have good quality young players who can come in and it is up to anyone who gets a chance to prove their worth and stake their claim.
“It is always a tough game against Derry City but we have to focus on our own game and make sure that is right.
“There’s going to be a great crowd up there tonight and it is up to us to give our fans who travel up something to cheer about and to hopefully send them home happy.”
