Alan Reynolds says Bohemians have a fight on their hands and they have to rise to the challenge.
Successive defeats in the past week against Drogheda United and Shamrock Rovers has Bohs looking over their shoulder once more.
Conceding an 84th minute goal to lose 1-0 at Tallaght Stadium was a bitter pill to swallow and Bohs need to start getting points on the board, with ninth-placed Drogheda just four points behind them.
Reynolds said: “We said last week that losing to Drogheda last week has given us a big job to do and that remains the case.
“We have a fight on our hands and as a group we have to rise to that challenge.
“The players were obviously very disappointed on Monday against Rovers. There was no lack of effort from our players on Monday but there was a lack of killer instinct.
“We had players in the squad who’d been sick for a few days. Leigh Kavanagh came off sick against Drogheda and was too sick to play, and there were others like James Clarke in the same boat who didn’t recover in time to play.
“It was something that went through a few players in the squad and it affected them but they gave everything of themselves and they were out on their feet by the end.
“We lacked the killer instinct in front of goal you need against sides as good as Rovers. We had to be clinical but we weren’t. We have to find that killer instinct.
“We are under no illusions of the position we are in. We have to come out fighting to get points on the board.”
Tonight’s trip to Oriel Park will be Dundalk’s first home game since a last-minute change in ownership prevented the club going out of business less than a fortnight ago.
Reynolds added: “It will be an emotional night for them I’m sure after a difficult few weeks for the club.
“We have to block all of that out. We have an important job to do and we need everyone pulling in the same direction to ensure we get the result we need.”
Team news
Bohemians are without Leigh Kavanagh, James McManus, Rob Cornwall and Keith Buckley. Jordan Flores is a doubt but Filip Piszczek could return to the squad.
