SSE Airtricity League
Sunday November 7 2021
Dalymount Park, 5pm
Match tickets: tickets.bohemians.ie
Exclusively live on LOITV
The battle for fourth is between four teams but Bohemians once again have the opportunity to move into pole position if they win against Drogheda United this evening.
Keith Long’s men failed to capitalise twice in recent weeks to leapfrog Derry City into fourth but will be hoping for third time lucky against Drogs at Dalymount.
But that will be easier said than done against Tim Clancy’s men who have beaten and drawn with Bohs this season; the Gypsies winning 5-0 when the sides last met in Dalymount in July the outlier of those three performances.
Long said: “Drogheda have had a fine season upon their return to the Premier Division and are more than a match for any team.
“Our respective league positions shows how tight it has been between the two teams this year and the points have been shared to date in the three previous encounters.
“Tonight we will be looking to make home advantage count and get back to winning ways in the league.”
Bohs come into the game after a mixed couple of weeks. Winning the FAI Cup semi-final against Waterford was an unbelievable high, but they came crashing down to earth with defeat against the same opposition in the league three days later.
That was followed by the concession a poor injury-time equaliser after an otherwise impressive performance against Derry City in the Brandywell.
Against St Patrick’s Athletic on Monday, Bohs were extremely fortunate to be only 2-0 down, but battled back to draw 2-2 and had plenty of opportunities to go on and win it too.
Long said: “Tonight we will be looking to build on the second half performance in Inchicore and tidy up on some of the costly errors. If we can do that we give ourselves every chance.
“Our recent form has been very mixed and we have been our own worst enemy at times with some of the goals we have conceded as a team.
“The basics of the game need to be done brilliantly every time and that’s not something we can say we have done consistently this season. It has been frustrating for us all but we have to continue to work hard in our attempts to improve.
“This group of players are very much together and although they may disappoint at times they never stop trying and will always give it their best.
“They have not been helped with the volume of games they have been exposed to with very little time for recovery and preparation. I am conscious that my words can be perceived as excuses but I can only offer an insight into my thoughts.
“It has been extremely trying to play games every three days. Monday against St Pat’s was our sixth game in 18 days, which is the second time we have had to do that this season. We have played 10 games Monday/Friday weekends, five of which were originally scheduled.
“This is not a sustainable workload for any group of players and we have suffered in my view as a club for developing young players and the lack of vision regarding our fixture calendar.
“I am not suggesting that this is the sole reason why we find ourselves in the position that we are in – we have lost or drawn too many games this year – but it certainly hasn’t helped at a defining time of the season.
“As a backroom team we have made the decision, for the welfare of the players and the greater good of the squad, to play our game against Shamrock Rovers this Friday without the players who are away with the Ireland U21 squad.
“We felt we had no other choice considering the alternative was to play our games on Thursday 4th and Sunday 7th of November, which would have seen us play eight games in 24 days, and then nothing until the 19th of November.
“This was just not feasible in our view, and it would be completely wreckless on our part had we agreed. By doing this, we at least have a better chance and more days to recover and prepare for tonight’s game, and likewise for the Rovers game on Friday.
“Drogheda find themselves in a situation quite similar to us but this situation was utterly avoidable from the outset as it was raised as a concern last season but was never acted upon.
“Managers and coaches are key stakeholders in the game but are very often overlooked when it comes to conversations directly relating to football.
“I am sure the issue will be addressed next season but for us as a club it is disappointing that with so much at stake we find ourselves in this position.”
TEAM NEWS
Andy Lyons (illness) is a doubt, while Georgie Kelly (calf) and Stephen Mallon (hip) remain out.
