Top two go head to head

HAVING exchanged the roles of cat and mouse over the last couple of games, Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians finally come face to face tonight in a much-anticipated and potentially pivotal clash at the Tallaght Stadium.

This is the kind of compelling fixture the embattled League of Ireland badly needs: a big derby game, a renewal of a heated rivalry and a meeting of the top two in the title hunt, all set to be played out in front of a full house of 6,000 – there will be no tickets on sale at the ground – with the live cameras looking on.

Things could hardly be much more finely balanced ahead of tonight’s Dublin derby between two sides who have shared the spoils – one win each and a draw – in their three meetings to date this season. Now, with just seven games to go in the title race, Bohemians hold a one-point lead over their nearest rivals having put their recently faltering league form behind them to impress in a 0-1 win in Derry on Tuesday, as Rovers manager Michael O’Neill, who attended the game at the Brandywell, is the first to acknowledge.