SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division
Friday May 19 2023, Oriel Park, 7.45pm
Bohemians boss Declan Devine says he believes his side are capable of beating anyone in this league when they bring their best to the party.
Bohs go into tonight’s game after successive defeats for the first time this season and are looking to get back to winning ways against Dundalk at Oriel Park.
Devine’s side faced an uphill struggle against Derry City last week after being reduced to 10 men on 14 minutes when Grant Horton was given his marching orders.
The Candystripes duly turned the screw two minutes later when former Bohemian Ryan Graydon scored the only goal of the game.
Bohs were disappointed that they could not get anything out of the game despite a much-improved second-half performance.
Devine said: ”From our point of view, I couldn’t have asked more of our players last week. The sending-off of Grant was devastating for us so early in the game and it affected us.
”We know that we have to learn from that. If we suffer any type of setback we can’t let another one happen, which is what happened when we conceded.
‘’But the players showed hunger and desire to go after the game and, apart from that crazy four or five minutes, I can’t fault the players.
‘’Every single one put in some shift against a side that has been building to challenge for a league title for a number of years now.
”And over the course of the last two games against established sides like Derry and Shamrock Rovers, I don’t think there was much between the teams.
”The two results haven’t gone our way. But we certainly feel as if we deserved something from the games.
”We didn’t lose because of a lack of effort and desire. But look, we’ve got to also understand that we cannot be losing those games either.
”We have got to make sure that we get something out of them. That’s something that we need to get right but we are a new group one and I can’t fault the players on their effort and their quality since the first game of the season.
”We played some fantastic stuff with ten men last Friday and the week before in Tallaght. We played a really good brand of football so those results are hard on everyone.
”But ultimately we want to get back to winning ways and that’s what it’s all about this week.
”We want to go and get points. We want to turn performances into wins again.
”We’ll be going to Dundalk to play at the levels we have played at over previous weeks but also be more of a threat and nullify what Dundalk’s threats will be.
”Defeats all hurt. But at the same time we just have to put it to the back of our minds like we do with wins.
”We have to get on with it and hopefully get a good performance that will enable us, in what is a really difficult venue on a difficult surface, and try get three points.”
Dundalk too come into this game after losing to Derry City.
Stephen O’Donnell’s side suffered a 3-0 defeat on Foyleside on Monday night but Devine added: ”I was at the game. Dundalk were unlucky. Even at 2-0 down they had two great chances.
”Even the character they showed the previous week to come back really late against Cork will stand them in good stead in terms of their hunger and their ability to keep going.
”So we’re under no illusions that we are in for another tough, tough game. But we have to bring our best to the party and if we can do that, I fancy us against anybody.”
TEAM NEWS
James Akintunde (hamstring) and Dylan Connolly (rib) are out, while Grant Horton is suspended.
