BOHEMIANS v DROGHEDA UTD (Friday May 31st, Dalymount Park, 7.45pm)
Bohemians will have to be assertive against Drogheda, as they look to take advantage of the “one-off” nature of the cup tie, according to manager Aaron Callaghan.
Playing in their third competition in three matches Bohemians will seek to confirm the battling form shown in their 4-2 league cup win last week.
“You have to be a bit more gung-ho in your tactics for a cup match, because if you lose you’re out,” said Callaghan.
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“Sometimes in a league game you’re happy enough to get a single point out of it. But we want to win this one, particularly as it’s on our home turf.”
The Bohemian manager admitted he would prefer to be playing a league game following last week’s defeat. “It leaves a bad taste in the mouth, and we’re waiting two weeks to put things right. But this is another competition we’re hoping to do well in.
“It’s a tough ask as this is one of only two all-Premier Division ties in the round. The cup draw hasn’t been kind to either Drogheda or ourselves and it’s going to be difficult for both of us.”
Despite his team slipping down the league table, Callaghan insists they go into the cup tie confident. “I’m always confident going into a match, even when performances may not have matched the standards we set for ourselves,” he said.
“We had a good result against them up in Drogheda [2-2, four weeks ago]. They have had some problems with consistency themselves. They had a heavy defeat in the Setanta Cup final and they seem to be conceding more goals than they did last year.
“It’s probably going to be an open game and you’ll see goals. We just hope we get more than they do.”
The most recent cup encounter between the sides was in the EA Sports Cup last season (10 April 2012). That game was level, 1-1, after extra time and went to penalties, Drogheda winning the shoot-out.
For Friday, Bohs are without Dave Scully, suspended for one match with four yellow cards. Owen Heary remains out with a hip injury, though he has returned to training and may be fit for Bohemians’ next league match.
The absence of Scully and Heary, following the recent departure of Stephen Paisley, means Bohemians are short on bigger, stronger players.
“Drogheda are a strong, physical side and we may be a bit lightweight. To be missing Dave’s height and his battling qualities is disappointing,” said Callaghan.
Roberto Lopes, Luke Byrne and Chris Lyons have returned to the squad after training with the Ireland under-21s. Callaghan is delighted with the opportunity these young players have had, “and it shows we must be doing something right when we supplied three of the 22 players in the squad”.