A place in the quarter-finals of the FAI Cup awaits tonight’s winners but Keith Long also wants to put a smile back on the faces of Bohemians supporters after a difficult 10 days for all at the club.
There has been an outpouring of emotion and tributes following the tragic passing of club legend Derek Monaghan on Wednesday of last week, and supporters will tonight once again pay tribute to man known to all as Mono.
Long said: ”The club, as highlighted this week, shows us what it means to its community and people.
”We have a responsibility to represent those values on the football pitch and represent this club in a manner that upholds its proud tradition.
”We will be doing all we can to help lift the mood around Dalymount and hopefully bring a smile back onto the face of supporters.”
Bohs come into the game in disappointing league form.
Last month, league wins over UCD and Drogheda United in the league and an FAI Cup win away to Finn Harps had supporters encouraged that Bohs were finally beginning to find their groove this season.
But what followed was defeats against Sligo Rovers and Dundalk and, last Friday, a 1-1 draw away to Shelbourne.
Tyreke Wilson’s stunning free-kick saw Bohs go in ahead at the break but a frustrating second-half performance allowed 10-man Shelbourne claim a point, albeit through a penalty that should never have been awarded.
Long added: ”I know we have frustrated and angered supporters with many performances this year and we want to put things right on the pitch.
”We have given supporters hope, and we do not want to take that away.
”We know we must do our work on the pitch, and we are working hard to achieve that. I share many of our supporters’ frustrations and want the very best for this club.
”Ultimately, we must do better.”
TEAM NEWS
Bohemians are without James Talbot (shoulder), Laurenz Dehl (knee), Conor Levingston (knee), Jordan Doherty (hamstring) and Jordan Flores (hamstring), while a number of others carrying knocks will be assessed ahead of the game.
