SSE Airtricity League
Tuesday April 5 2022
The Showgrounds, 7.45pm
Live on LOITV
Keith Long has challenged his Bohemians side to sustain the performance levels he believes they are capable of right until the final whistle tonight when they travel to take on Sligo Rovers at the Showgrounds.
On Friday night, Bohs’ first-half performance saw them deliver some of their best attacking football of the season when they hosted league leaders Derry City at Dalymount Park.
They bossed much of the first half, with Liam Burt giving them the lead on 25 minutes after some brilliant team play in the build-up.
But they were left cursing themselves that they went in at the break having failed to add to that goal when they had chances to extend their advantage.
Failure to convert those opportunities cost them in the second half when individual errors came back to haunt Bohs once more as they succumbed to a 2-1 defeat, with the visitors scoring in the 93rd minute.
It was a cruel way to lose a game, but Long said his side must dust themselves down, refocus, and recreate that first-half performance – except this time right until the full-time whistle blows.
Long said: “We need to repeat the first-half performance we had against Derry City over the entire 90 minutes.
“We were pleasing to watch in that first half. We showed what we are capable of and we made Derry, who are a really good side, look ordinary at times.
“We should have gone in at half-time further ahead but we then struggled in the second half.
“In the second half we didn’t keep the ball enough, retain possession enough, build attacks enough, and ultimately basic errors cost us the game.
“We weren’t a million miles off against a really good side – whoever finishes ahead of Derry City will win the league – but we know we have to deliver a consistent performance for the whole 90 minutes and cut out mistakes for results to improve.
“We work very hard to get ahead in games but it has been too easy for the opposition to get goals against us.
“But we are confident and determined in our ability to turn it around.”
TEAM NEWS
Jordan Doherty (illness), Stephen Mallon (ankle) and Ryan Cassidy (ankle) remain doubts.
James Mullins (ankle) is available once more, while Junior Ogedi-Uzokwe got his first runout for the club as a second half substitute on Friday following ankle and Achilles injuries.
This game will come too soon for James Finnerty (knee), who returned to training this week.
