Bohemians will need to pick themselves up fast in preparation for their first and only Dublin Derby at Dalymount Park Vs Shamrock Rovers.
It’s the first meeting between the sides at the Home of Irish Football since September, with Bohs having foregone a home fixture to draw a record 33,208 to the Aviva Stadium on the opening weekend.
Although there is nowhere near the same crowd expected to go to Dublin 7 tonight, there is set to be an emotionally charged atmosphere with both sides in fantastic form.
Friday’s loss in Waterford marks only Bohemians’ third loss in ten games, which includes the Gypsies’ dramatic 3-2 win over Rovers in Tallaght.
Two quick goals just before half time at the RSC through Pádraig Amond and Conan Noonan, the first of which came from the penalty spot, condemned Bohs to suffer their ninth loss of the season and their first since losing away to Drogheda United, to make it back-to-back defeats to the Blues.
The Hoops have had a better spell, however, having not lost since their Derby loss at home on Easter Monday, securing eight wins and two draws in their last ten games.
They have now extended their lead at the top of the Men’s Premier Division to nine points, albeit with two more games played than tonight’s opponents, with a win for either side being crucial in the race for the title into which Bohs have been dragged kicking and screaming.
The Gypsies have experienced possibly the biggest upturn of form this season, with Alan Reynolds’ job looking more and more secure with each passing week, as his side have climbed from eighth to third, having the aforementioned two games in hand on the Hoops.
A win for Bohs could see them leapfrog Drogheda United into second and close the gap on Shamrock Rovers to six points with two games still in hand, however they will be keenly missing the services of Seán Grehan who has departed Phibsboro following the end of his loan spell from FA Cup Winners Crystal Palace.
Leigh Kavanagh, John Mountney, Niall Morahan, and Rob Cornwall all remain viable options, with their services contributing to Bohs having the second best defence in the league, which will make for a tough test for Rovers.
Michael Noonan, Aaron Greene, Rory Gaffney, Graham Burke have all contributed to the excellent upturn of form for the Hoops, obtaining by far and away the best attacking record with 41 goals scored this season
Noonan’s brace on Friday night set Rovers on their way to a 4-1 win over Cork City in Tallaght, taking the 18-year-old’s league tally to six for the season, a run which started in the defeat to Bohemians in April.
Whoever wins tonight’s derby will be relishing the prospect of another league title. That is not so bad for a side who I said was in a relegation battle with Sligo Rovers only in April, right?
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