With Bohs in eighth, Friday’s home defeat to ninth-placed Drogheda saw the Louth side close the gap to just five points, although the Phibsboro club hold a game in hand coming into tonight’s big Dublin derby away to Shamrock Rovers.
Rovers came out 3-1 winners when they last met in Tallaght in March, but Bohs arrive in Dublin 24 unbeaten in their last three meetings with the Hoops, having won back-to-back clashes at Dalymount, in the league a little over three weeks ago which followed an FAI Cup second round tie victory in July.
Bohs midfielder Dawson Devoy, who returned to the club from the UK in July, soon became the centre of attention after that cup triumph as Rovers submitted a case to the FAI arguing the 22-year-old should have been suspended, due to a ban from a red card picked up while at MK Dons last year. That appeal was rejected.
And now preparing to face the champions for a third time since coming home, Devoy insists his side will be fearless as they look to win in Tallaght for the first time since April 2019 on Monday night.
“We are going there to win,” said Devoy. “We have had two decent results against Rovers recently, but that means nothing really as Tallaght Stadium is a bit different to Dalymount. We will be ready for the task.
“We don’t fear any team, it would be silly to do that. We give them respect, as much respect as you should, but you also back yourself. We fancy ourselves against any team in the league.”
With Bohs looking to avoid dropping into the play-off spot with seven games remaining, Devoy says his side’s focus is solely on themselves.
“We’re not really looking around us. We’re just trying to get as many points as possible,” added the ex-Ireland U-21 international.
“Our performances have been good recently and we did things last Friday that were also pretty good, but Drogheda defended in a low block, got their goal and had something to hold onto. We had four or five really good chances and, on another day, they might go in.”
Meanwhile, the Hoops sit in third, seven points off leaders Shelbourne and were left reeling in Derry last Friday as, having led 1-0 in injury-time, a hugely contentious decision to award the hosts a late penalty saw the points shared.
Rovers boss Stephen Bradley was scathing in his criticism of referee Damien MacGraith afterwards, labelling him “the worst in the league”, after replays showed there was no contact on Patrick McEleney inside the box. Bradley feels VAR would help such situations.
“It’s a really difficult one to take. I’m still really angry about it,” said Bradley.
“VAR would be a positive addition to the league but I’m not sure how viable it is to be honest. It would help get decisions like that on Friday correct.
“Regardless of where Bohs are, it doesn’t concern us. It’s about us focusing on what we do and when our chances come, which they always do, we have to make sure we take them. We are hurting from Friday as we feel we should have three points. We need to try and go and perform as we did in Derry, like we did on Monday in Galway [2-1 win]. We do that and we’ll be fine.”
Shamrock Rovers v Bohemians, Live, Virgin Media 2, 7.45
