Monday 06/05/2024 G14 Bohs v Galway United 5pm

Alan Reynolds analysis of last Friday’s game against SRFC and preview of our upcoming game against Galway United.

Alan Reynolds believes Friday’s performance against Shamrock Rovers is evidence that Bohemians have improved during his five weeks in charge but says they need to be even better to beat Galway United at Dalymount Park tomorrow. Filip Pisczek gave Bohs the lead in the Dublin derby and Reynolds’ side will have been frustrated that they spurned chances in the first half to extend that advantage. They were pegged back to 1-1 two minutes before half-time, which perhaps had some supporters fearing a repeat of when the sides met at the end of March in Reynolds’ first game in charge.

On that occasion, Bohs also went in level at the break but were steamrolled by Rovers in the second half, succumbing to a 3-1 defeat. On Friday, however, there was no repeat. Bohs stood firm against increased Rovers pressure, and could even have nicked the win in the end with a flurry of late corners. Reynolds said: “We were disappointed that in the first half we didn’t take our chances when we had the opportunities to extend our lead. On another day we would have been 2-0 up.
“Filip took his goal very well and it is pleasing to have him scoring because he’s had a bit of a stop-start season since coming to the club with injuries and trying to get back up to speed. “But the most pleasing thing for me was that when Rovers were in the ascendancy in the second half, we coped well with the pressure.

“They taught us a bit of a lesson when we played them in Tallaght back in March. I had only had two training sessions with the players at that stage, and they did well in the first half, but in the second half Rovers picked us off. “This time around we did what we needed to do well when Rovers upped the ante, and in the end we could have nicked it.
“Obviously we are still a work in progress, we saw that in Dundalk. I feel that there is still a lot that we need to improve on and change but what I like is what I saw on Friday was a really strong never-say-die attitude from our players.”

Friday’s result leaves Bohs in fourth place, but with a game in hand against the sides above them. They host Galway United at the earlier time of 5pm tomorrow, with John Caulfield’s side just three points behind having played the same number of games. The Tribesmen have earned a reputation of being an extremely difficult side to beat and to break down this season. Indeed, Bohs’ 2-1 win at Eamon Deacy Park at the beginning of April is the only time a side has scored two goals against them in any game this season. On that occasion, Bohs had the set-piece prowess of Dayle Rooney to thank – the first goal a free-kick met by Mills and the second a corner met by Akintunde. Reynolds said: “Galway have shown what a difficult side they are this season and they have caught out a lot of teams this year.

“No result against Galway this season will come easily. We had to work extremely hard to beat them last month and we will need to be even better to do so again. “We played well on Friday but if we want to build on that we need to improve further. We’ll obviously freshen up the team with the game coming so soon after Friday. “But anyone who takes to the pitch will know that if they don’t work hard enough against this Galway side, they will frustrate and punish you.”