Bohs aim to leapfrog Pat’s with win over Students
Bohs are currently one point behind the leaders with two games in hand, and with Pats not in action until Sunday away to third-placed Cork City, this evening’s home game against the struggling Students would appear to offer Pat Fenlon’s team a gilt-edged chance to get their noses in front.
However, after goalkeeper Matt Gregg rescued an unlikely point with the most unlikely of goals against Cobh last weekend, UCD are entitled to believe that anything is possible. Pat Fenlon witnessed the amazing events in Belfield and, despite the fact that the opposition are perilously close to the relegation zone, he expects a tough test from Pete Mahon’s team.
“UCD are a difficult side to play against,” he says. “They have caused problems for all the so-called bigger sides down the years and though the expectations of our supporters may be high, I expect a competitive encounter. UCD have pace up front and wide on the right and that is something we have to be wary of.”
Jason Byrne, Ken Oman and Mark Rossiter all come back into contention for the Gypsies tonight but they will be without the suspended Jason McGuinness and John Paul Kelly.
TG4 will have live coverage of the battle of the Rovers as the Hoops, fresh from holding Pats to a 1-1 draw, take on Sligo at Tolka Park.
But Sligo are one of the form teams in the league at the moment, having extended their unbeaten run to five games with a 4-1 thumping of Finn Harps last time out.
“Games between us in recent years have been very tight,” says Pat Scully, “and I’d expect this one to be no different. They’re full-time and they’ve utilised England to good effect, bringing in physical and experienced players. It’s going to be a battle, especially in midfield, but if we maintain our recent standards I’d fancy us.”
In tonight’s other Premier Division game, Galway United will be hoping for more evidence that their troubled season is turning a corner when they face Derry City at Terryland Park.
Having made his competitive debut as a player in last week’s win over Bray, manager Jeff Kenna again names himself in the squad. The Tribesmen will have to do without Alan Keane who injured knee in training.
“We’ve picked up four points in the last two games and have started to climb the table,” says Kenna.
Derry, however, are concerned with doing some climbing of their own, as they currently lie in fourth place, seven points off the top. The Candystripes have no injury or suspension worries and Stephen Kenny is encouraged by his side’s progress in recently.
“We’ve started to play well, there’s a good rhythm to our game now and the players are starting to express themselves.”
Meanwhile, Finn Harps are angry their game against Drogheda, scheduled for tomorrow, was postponed due to the FAI’s decision to grant the title holder’s request for preparation time ahead of their Champions’ League qualifier against Dynamo Kiev next week (live on RTÉ2).
In a statement, Harps said they that were “extremely unhappy” with the postponement adding that, “The short notice of the cancellation impacts on Harps from a financial point of view through to team preparation not to mention sponsors and our fans.
“Team training had been targeted for a Saturday fixture and the short notice of the cancellation means that no replacement friendly can be arranged. This means that in the middle of this important period Finn Harps will have no match for two weeks.”
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