League Preview: Bohemians -v- Shamrock Rovers

Friday's showpiece Dublin derby at Dalymount Park has taken on an all new significance in the wake of news that former Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers player and League of Ireland legend Johnny Fulham sadly passed away on Wednesday.

In his seven years at Bohemians from 1969-1976 Fulham helped Bohs to a league title in 1975 and won two FAI Cups in 1970 and 1976, also winning a league title with Shamrock Rovers in 1965 all the while earning eleven caps for his country. The

BOHEMIANS

Bohemians will be keen to put their 3-1 defeat away to St. Patrick's Athletic behind them when they take to the field on Friday night, with the loss pushing the Gypsies down to fifth place on account of goal difference to Friday's victors St. Pats.

On the defeat manager Keith Long said that while his side were disappointed with the loss that St. Pats were simply the better side on the night.

“They're a good side and I think to be fair to St. Pats they exposed us a little bit. They put in a good performance, they scored some good goals, poor goals from our point of view to concede, but you can see that they're a full-time outfit and that showed.”

Attentions now turn to Friday's game where a win would close the gap between Friday's opponents to three points, with Rovers currently six points ahead of the Gypsies in third spot.

“Friday’s is a massive game for us, one we’ve been looking forward to all season and the players will need no motivation for it”, Long told bohemianfc.com

“They’ll [Rovers] be full of confidence coming to Dalymount Park, and wanting the win. But from our perspective, we’ve got to make sure our players want it more than they do. It can come down to that in a derby game.”

His side will remain without long-term lay-offs Marc Griffin and captain Derek Pender as well as Paddy Kavanagh, Dan Byrne who suffered a setback in training, and Robbie Creevy who came off in the first half against Pats.

Long expects Dave Mulcahy to be fit for the game but is doubtful over the fitness of defender Anto Murphy who is still recovering from an ankle injury.

SHAMROCK ROVERS

Pat Fenlon's side are in inspiring form of late. With nine goals in their last two games, with 4-1 and 5-1 wins over Sligo Rovers and Derry City paving the way for Rovers' most consistent run of goal scoring form so far this season.

On their most recent victory over Derry on Monday night, Manager Pat Felon said that he was delighted to have scored so many goals in his last two outings.

“I’m delighted we’ve scored nine goals and got six points from those last two games in Tallaght” said Fenlon. “We hadn't been scoring enough goals, and we’ve corrected that in the last two games. We have had a good balance about our play going forward.

With Bohemians' win over champions Dundalk last Friday, Rovers remain the only unbeaten side in this season's Premier Division after sixteen games, with nine wins and seven draws.

One of such draws came in this reverse fixture back in March when the Hoops were held to a frustrating but nonetheless fiercely competitive 0-0 draw at Tallaght Stadium.

The suspended Mikey Drennan scored his 10th league goal of the season in Monday's game and will be sorely missed in the upcoming derby on account of his run of form and Rovers' lack of strikers with Danny North ruled out for an extended period.

Hoops manager Fenlon said he was hoping to take points from Dalymount before the mid-season break.

“This is a big game for us going to Dalymount Park to play a good Bohemians side and we will look to take something from the match going into the mid-season break.”

He will be without five of his squad for the game with Danny North, Maxime Blanchard, Keith Fahey, Sean O'Connor all injured, while Mikey Drennan is suspended.

Referee: David McKeon

MATCH STATS

Bohemians are one win away from matching their 2014 win tally of nine, with seventeen games remaining in the season.

Mikey Drennan's goal against Derry City on Monday night was the forward's 10th this season, putting him joint top of the Premier Division scorer's list.

Bohemians 2-1 win versus Dundalk last Friday means that Shamrock Rovers remain the only unbeaten side in this season's Premier Division after 16 games played.

Five of the last seven meetings of these two sides have ended in draws.

Shamrock Rovers have managed only 8 league goals in their seven away games so far this season, compared with their 19 goals in nine league fixtures at Tallaght Stadium.

BETTING

Bohemians 3/1; Draw 21/10; Shamrock Rovers Evens.

PREDICTION

Bohemians 0-0 Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians

Injured: Derek Pender (achilles), Marc Griffin (cruciate), Dan Byrne (knee cartilage), Robbie Creevy (groin), Paddy Kavanagh (knee).

Doubtful: Anto Murphy (ankle), Dave Mulcahy (calf).

Suspended: None.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Danny North (knee), Maxime Blanchard (hamstring), Keith Fahey (knee), Sean O'Connor (achilles).

Doubtful: None.

Suspended: Mikey Drennan.