Bohemians will be looking to move seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot when they host St Patrick’s Athletic at Dalymount Park on Monday in the League of Ireland.
The hosts are third last with 37 points after 32 games and are one position below ninth-placed Drogheda United, while the away team are in fifth place with 47 points and could end Monday four points behind first-placed Shelbourne with just three games remaining.
Match preview
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The home side drew 1-1 with Derry City last time out in the league on Friday in what was an evenly contested match given Derry produced two big chances while Bohemians fashioned one.
Friday’s game was the second match in a row that Bohs played Derry City, having lost 2-0 in the semi-final of the FAI Cup on October 4.
Manager Alan Reynolds will be delighted with the point considering his side are now three points clear of Drogheda, who occupy the division’s relegation playoff spot, as well as having a game in hand on their relegation rivals.
Reynolds’s side have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six league games and need six points from their final four top-flight matches to guarantee safety, though they are unlikely to need six points due to the fact Drogheda still have to play first-placed Shelbourne and second-placed Shamrock Rovers.
Bohemians have a poor record at home in recent weeks, winning one, drawing four and losing five of their last 10 top-flight matches at Dalymount Park.
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Opponents St Patrick’s Athletic come into the clash in outstanding form having won their last seven games in all competitions.
In that period, the visitors scored 20 times and conceded on six occasions, and they also beat both Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne in the league.
Saints beat Shelbourne 3-2 on September 30 in their most recent league outing, a match in which they were winning 2-0 after 62 minutes but only won thanks to Al-Amin Kazeem’s 88th-minute winner after Shelbourne scored in the 76th and 80th minutes.
Boss Stephen Kenny, who was in charge of the Ireland national team until November 2023, said in the aftermath of his side’s victory that a title challenge with just four games remaining is unrealistic.
Of the 10 clubs in the top flight, Kenny’s team have scored the third most goals per game though they have conceded the fifth most per match.
St Patrick’s Athletic have won their last three away games in the league, but they drew six and lost six of the previous 12 fixtures on the road.
Bohemians League of Ireland Premier form:
St Patrick’s Athletic League of Ireland Premier form:
St Patrick’s Athletic form (all competitions):
Team News
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The hosts will be without defender Rob Cornwall for the remainder of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while forward James Akintunde and midfielders James McManus, Keith Buckley and Martin Miller will all miss out.
Centre-back Leigh Kavanagh could feature in some capacity should he recover from an illness, but Reynolds may continue with Jordan Flores and Jevon Mills in the heart of defence.
Bohemians will likely start Adam McDonnell and Dawson Devoy in a double pivot in midfield behind attackers Archie Meekison, Ross Tierney, Dayle Rooney and striker James Clarke.
As for the visitors, they will be unable to select midfielder Jamie Lennon, who has accumulated too many yellow cards and is suspended for Monday’s game.
Forward Cian Kavanagh and midfielder Romal Palmer are also set to miss out for the next few weeks as a result of respective back and knee injuries.
Aaron Bolger may come into the XI in place of Lennon, and he could be joined in midfield by Brandon Kavanagh and Christopher Forrester.
Bohemians possible starting lineup:
Chorazka; Byrne, Mills, Flores, Kirk; Devoy, McDonnell; Meekison, Tierney, Rooney; Clarke
St Patrick’s Athletic possible starting lineup:
Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin; Bolger, Kavanagh, Forrester; Elbouzedi, Keena, Mulraney
Given the exceptional form of St Patrick’s Athletic, it is difficult to see how Bohemians can avoid defeat.
Additionally, considering the hosts have been poor at home in recent times, it would not be surprising if they conceded multiple goals on Monday night.
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