Bohs believe away goal will be enough

Despite the frustrations of a first leg they dominated, Bohemians are quietly confident they can keep a clean sheet and score a potentially crucial away goal against Thor Akureyri on the edge of the Arctic circle tonight.

Having drawn in Dublin, the perception is Thor will come out of their shell at home and Aaron Callaghan’s side will hope to punish any complacency.

“Going by the first leg we’re very hopeful we can get the right result and get through,” said defender Evan McMillan.

“Aaron did a bit of homework on them and what he told us was true, they were quite direct at times. The [first leg] game was kind of slow paced so there weren’t many chances in it. It was a different style for us, slower than say the Shamrock Rovers game, so it was tougher to up the pace when they were playing at a slower tempo.

“They are going to have to try to score a goal, so they will come at us more which will suit us. So we’re hoping that we can get the crucial goal.

“The way we see it, a clean sheet is key. If we score over here they have to get two. We’re confident if we can score it will be enough.”

Midfielder Dave Mulcahy hasn’t travelled due to a hip injury while striker Dinny Corcoran (shoulder) also remained in Dublin.

Callaghan said: “I think we had to score either way. Why not score away?”

“I think we can cause them problems at set-pieces. We’ve done a fair bit of work on that in training and hopefully one of them will come off.

The additional €100,000 for making the second round is only part of the benefit of a positive result, insists Callaghan.

“I think it would be massive for the club. Not just financially, but for the development of the club in terms of the players to come away and get a result.”

Bohemians (probable): McNulty; Heary, McMillan, Feely, Byrne; McEvoy, Traynor, Ward; Buckley, Wilson, McMahon.