SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Monday April 10 2023
Ryan McBride Stadium, 7pm
Declan Devine says his Bohemians players have to take Friday’s Dublin derby defeat on the chin as they try to get back to winning ways away to his hometown club Derry City tonight.
Bohs started brightly against Shamrock Rovers at Dalymount, creating goal-scoring opportunities in a lively opening 25-minute period.
But they conceded at one of the worst possible times – a minute before half-time – and struggled in the second half as Rovers added another to win 2-0.
Tonight’s opponents’ defeat to Drogheda United kept Bohs top of the table on Friday night but they face a tough task remaining there at the Ryan McBride Stadium tonight.
Devine said: “The boys have come to difficult venues, played in difficult circumstances at times and up to now have been superb.
“We have to take Friday’s result on the chin and go to Derry and do all we can to get a result.
“We have players hurting but there is a long way to go.
“There are a lot of other clubs that would like to be sitting where we are in terms of points return from the opening lump of games.
“Whether the result on Friday was a win, lose or draw, you have to put that behind you and get ready for the next one. That’s what we have done.
“We have good lads and good players. But we have to strive to get better to make sure that in the real tight games, we defend better than we did on Friday.
“We are not very happy with certain aspects of the game but we have to learn.
“A lot of players were playing in their first Dublin derby and we have got to understand that these are things we have to make sure we can rectify as the season goes on. These are fine margins in games.
“When we are on top in the opening period, where the crowd is right behind us, if we can take one of those chances and put it in the back of the net, that gives us the lift we need at that time.
“We have to psychologically learn from the goal we conceded. You take your 1-0 and make sure you don’t concede a second.
“I just think it was one that we nearly felt a wee bit sorry for ourselves because we had been on top so much for the opening period.
“We have to learn that these things happen in the game and we have to understand you dust yourself down and be ready for the next game.
“We are just trying to make sure we get better week in, week out.”