Keith Long knows qualifying for Europe through the league will be an uphill task this season but says Bohemians will be doing everything in their power to defy the odds.
Nine points separate Bohs in sixth and tonight’s opponents St Patrick’s Athletic in fourth, and Long knows his side are running out of time to try and close that gap.
Long said: ”There’s lots of games and twists and turns, you can’t give up.
“There’s a big gap, we’ve not given up but we have made life difficult for ourselves.”
Bohs stopped a run of two defeats and a draw with Friday’s 2-0 win over Lucan United in the FAI Cup.
The challenge now is to build on that and improve their form in the league.
Long added: “There are lots of improvements to be made in terms of performance, but I was pleased with the effort and endeavour of the players.
”We need to continue to try and improve – we have to as it’s a big week with tonight’s game against St Pat’s and Friday against Shamrock Rovers.
”We will fight hard to win every game we can. It won’t be easy. It’s Pat’s, a Dublin derby here.
”St Pat’s are in reasonably good form coming in off the back of European competition. We have to play each other in another round of games.
“We’re not looking for perfection but we are looking for progression. We are working extremely hard. I believe we have the bones of a good side.”
TEAM NEWS
Bohemians are without James Talbot (shoulder), Laurenz Dehl (knee), Conor Levingston (knee), Jordan Doherty (hamstring), Jordan Flores (hamstring) and Johnny Afolabi (quad).
