High-flying Bohs eye tough trip to Sligo

AFTER Saturday’s successful trip to Belfast, champions Bohemians return to League of Ireland Premier Division action this evening away to Sligo Rovers (The Showgrounds, 7.45pm) in a not insignificant dress rehearsal for their FAI Ford Cup quarter-final clash next week.

Bohs will be looking for their fourth straight league victory following wins over Cork City, St Pat’s and Galway United, while a win in the west would also restore Bohemians’ Premier Division lead to seven points.

Gypsies boss Pat Fenlon will be without Mark Rossiter (shoulder), Owen Heary (hamstring), Brian Shelley (groin) and Glen Crowe (leg) while Ken Oman is suspended.

Paul Cook will have the rare pleasure of having a full squad to pick from this evening.

Elsewhere, troubled Derry City take on Galway United at The Brandywell as they continue their bid for European qualification (7.45pm). Apart from their much-publicised off-the-field issues, Derry also face into tonight’s clash without Kevin Deery (knee), Sammy Morrow (ankle), Ciaran Martyn (groin) and Steven Gray (back). In spite of that, Derry go into this one on the back of a fine run of form having secured three wins from their four league matches in August.

“I’m very happy with the persistence that the team has shown in the last two games with the 10-man win over St Patrick’s and the late goal against Bray,” said Candystripes boss Stephen Kenny.

“We’ve shown good spirit and we want that to continue against Galway. Galway have good players and I’m sure that it will be a keenly contested affair in what will be the first of two league games at home this week with Dundalk travelling here on Friday. Hopefully we will get a good crowd and the fans get behind the team as they always do.”