League Preview: Dundalk -v- Bohemians
- Josh Dolan
- Thu, Jun 04 2015
DUNDALK
Dundalk host Bohemians on Friday night, looking to record their sixth straight league win this season.
However, Lilywhites boss Stephen Kenny isn’t taking anything for granted and insists that his side will have to be at their best in order to get a favourable result on Friday night.
“We will have to be at our best (against Bohemians), but we are unbeaten in the league since last September when we were beaten in Richmond Park and we are determined to keep that unbeaten, that winning run that we are on-going,” Kenny told dundalkfc.com ahead of Friday night’s visit of Bohemians.
“Bohemians are having a great season themselves. They are a really good side and will really test us.
“We know we will have to be at our best and it will be a tough game,” the ex-Shamrock Rovers manager added.
Midfielder Jake Kelly was one of five players to arrive at Oriel Park last January and speaking to dundalkfc.com ahead of Friday night’s game Kelly expressed his willingness to wait.
“It’s been brilliant since I arrived. It’s a great dressing room to be a part of and obviously the results have been going really well for the team, it’s nice to be involved in a winning environment,” the ex-Bray man stated.
Kelly, who was on the score sheet in a 3-0 win when the sides met at Dalymount Park back in March is anticipating a tough test.
“Against Bohemians in Dalymount Park back in March they put it up to us, it was a really even game and I think we were flattered to win 3-0 in the end,” Kelly recalled.
“They had a man sent off and then we scored two late goals.
“We will be taking nothing for granted against Bohs on Friday night,”
Heading into the game in top form, Stephen Kenny also has the added bonus of having a full squad to choose from, following the returns of Brian Gartland, Stephen O’Donnell and Darren Meenan, who have all recovered from respective injuries.
BOHEMIANS
Bohemians boss Keith Long takes his side to Oriel Park to face table toppers Dundalk on Friday night.
"Dundalk are the benchmark at the moment for other teams to follow," said Long.
“They're the League Champions, unbeaten all season, and it's a game that people will consider us major underdogs for.”
The Phibsboro outfit are in for a tough couple of weeks, as after the full-time whistle on Friday night, they will begin preparations for the visit of Shamrock Rovers ahead of Friday week’s Dublin derby at Dalymount Park.
“We're not going up there (Oriel Park) without hope - we'll be going to get a result, and hopefully put in a good performance to set us up for a big week," the ex-Athlone Town boss continued.
Long has also suggested that there is a real air of confidence amongst his squad and believes that if his team can play with confidence on Friday, then anything is possible.
"Within the group, there's a quiet confidence, and we believe we can go up there and give a good performance. Hopefully that will lead to a good result for us,” Long concluded confidently.
Derek Pender and Marc Griffin are both set to be sidelined for the foreseeable future after picking up serious Achilles and cruciate knee ligament injuries respectively. Paddy Kavanagh and Anto Murphy are also out after picking up injuries in recent games, while striker Dean Kelly is rated 50/50 as he tries to shake off a recent injury problem.
On a positive note, Dave Mulcahy and Dylan Hayes are set for a return to the Bohs squad following injury, while Long has also revealed that Roberto Lopes is fit to play after being substituted during last Friday’s Irish Daily Mail FAI Cup Second Round win over Leinster Senior League outfit Firhouse Clover.
Referee: Robert Harvey
MATCH STATS
The last team to take three points from Oriel Park against Dundalk was Limerick back in September of 2013. The Lilywhites have gone 25 home games unbeaten since.
Bohemians have registered ten league goals on the road this season. Only Friday night’s opponents have scored more (13).
You have to go back to the 27th April 2012 for Bohemians’ last victory at Oriel Park. That day, goals from midfield duo Ryan McEvoy and Peter McMahon helped the Gypsies to a 2-1 victory.
BETTING
Dundalk 3/10; Draw 15/4; Bohemians 10/1.
PREDICTION
Dundalk 2-0 Bohemians
Dundalk
Injured: None.
Doubtful: None.
Suspended: None.
Bohemians
Injured: Marc Griffin, Derek Pender, Paddy Kavanagh, Anto Murphy.
Doubtful: Dean Kelly.
Suspended: None.
About Josh Dolan
Josh Dolan is one of our Dublin based reporters, who also helps out with Extratime.ie’s administration tasks.
Josh, who was recommended to us by fellow reporters, joined the site as a teenager …