Erratic results widespread, but Reynolds knows Bohs must improve

Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds. Pic: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile

In their desperate need for a win, the last team Bohemians wanted was unbeaten Galway United.

Alan Reynolds’ side have yet to win at Dalymount Park – albeit their opening day victory over Shamrock Rovers at Aviva Stadium was technically a home game – and fans' impatience is rife.

The Gypsies boss, in his first full season at the helm after assuming control last May, contends the erratic results are widespread.

“There is a lack of consistency across the league so far,” highlighted Reynolds.

“We’re six games in and none of the 10 teams have won more than three games.

“However, we know that two wins from six isn’t good enough from us. Fans are understandably frustrated and our players are too.

“They are working extremely hard. We’ve made the most of the international break, everyone pushed each other really hard in training and it was a chance to work on things that haven’t been going right for us.

After losing 3-0 at St Patrick’s Athletic, another difficult one beckons.

“Galway are the unbeaten team for a reason,” stressed the manager.

“Any team managed by John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan is always well organised and hard to beat. They’re big and strong, so we have to rise to that, show what we are really capable of and start the game as we mean to go on.

“Our form hasn’t been what we want it to be so we know that we have a job to do to win back the trust of our supporters. Incredibly, seven games into the season, it’s our first Friday night game of the year at Dalymount Park so there is no better place for us to get back to winning ways.

“We know we have good players, they’ve shown in glimpses what they are capable of, the challenge now is to dig deep and make sure all the hard work they have been putting in during training shows when we take to the pitch.” 

 Waterford are another side aiming to reverse fortunes. Since hitting top spot by beating Cork City, they’ve slipped to defeats against Bohemians and Galway United. Stephen Kenny’s Saints are the visitors to the RSC on Friday.

“We want to perform well and get back to being difficult to play against and beat,” declared Blues boss Keith Long. “We’re going to have to be at it against a good side with good players”.