Burkina Faso
Chinese Taipei
Nigeria

Preview: Bohemians vs. Sligo Rovers - prediction, team news, lineups

sportsmole.co.uk, 31 May 2023, 12:37
Aiming to climb back into the top two in the League of Ireland Premier Division after a recent slump, Bohemians will welcome Sligo Rovers to Dalymount Park on Friday.

A four-match winless run has seen the hosts drop four points behind new leaders Derry City, while their visitors remain seventh after making a return to winning ways against the top side last weekend.

Match preview

After a sixth-placed finish last time around, Bohemians enjoyed a strong start to the new League of Ireland Premier Division campaign in their bid to challenge for a 12th top-flight title and their first since 2009.

From their opening 13 league outings, the Bohs sat at the top of the table with 28 points on the board courtesy of nine victories while only suffering three defeats, but they have since seen their form drop off slightly and head into the weekend in the midst of a four-match winless run.

Following a 5-0 thrashing of Cork City at the beginning of May, Declan Devine's side suffered a 2-0 defeat in a tough trip to Shamrock Rovers and a 1-0 beating at home to fellow title-chasers Derry, as Ryan Graydon hit the only goal of the game early on after Grant Horton was sent off for Bohemians in the opening 15 minutes.

The Bohs then travelled to Dundalk and looked set to fall to a third straight loss, as they trailed 2-0 going into the final 15 minutes, only for Declan McDaid to pull one back and Jordan Flores to net the leveller in the dying minutes, before they most recently hosted seventh-placed Shelbourne and took another point as neither side were able to break the deadlock.

While the two sides above them both lost last weekend, the winless run has seen Devine's men fall four points behind the league leaders and three behind Shamrock Rovers, and they will be keen to regain some ground in the title race with a 10th league triumph of the campaign on Friday.

Their visitors make the trip hoping to build on an important victory last time out, after they made a mixed start to the league campaign but one that was generally weaker than that of the hosts.

Following a 2-1 triumph over Dundalk in early April, the Bit O'Red sat third in the League of Ireland Premier Division on 12 points from eight outings, but they have since managed just three more wins and 10 more points in the 10 games since.

The second of those three-point hauls came away at St Patrick's Athletic at the beginning of May, but John Russell's side would quickly drop back down to seventh place following three further defeats on the bounce, falling short against Dundalk, Shelbourne and Cork City and failing to score a single goal along the way.

They then faced the difficult test of a contest at home to leaders Derry City, but they were able to defy the odds and end their losing run in impressive fashion, scoring a 1-0 victory as they stood strong following William Fitzgerald's fourth-minute goal and John Mahon's sending off 15 minutes from time.

Now with some renewed confidence following that hard-fought home win, the Bit O'Red will hope to have turned a corner and build a run of results to inspire a climb up the division, with the chance to go within five points of Friday's opponents.

Bohemians League of Ireland Premier form:

D

W

L

L

D

D

Sligo Rovers League of Ireland Premier form:

L

W

L

L

L

W

Team News

Given that they currently boast one of the league's tightest defensive records, and after their clean sheet against Shelbourne last time out, Bohemians should deploy an unchanged back four featuring Jay Benn and Jordan Flores in right and left wing-back roles respectively, either side of Kacper Radkowski and Krystian Nowak.

It is Flores who leads their scoring charts with five in the league thus far, while Ali Coote has been another key man further forward, contributing four goals and five assists in 13 Premier Division appearances so far this term.

He, likely alongside Declan McDaid and Kris Twardek, will support either James Akintunde or Jonathan Afolabi up front, while the midfield pairing of James McManus and Adam McDonnell should not be altered.

Sligo Rovers head into Friday's trip without centre-back John Mahon, who will serve a suspension after he was sent off in their victory over Derry City, and Daniel Lafferty and Johan Brannefalk could both come in to strengthen the defence in his absence and in the potential absence of Nando Pijnaker who was forced off in the first half.

At the other end of the pitch, their line will again be led by Max Mata, who has netted a league-high tally of nine goals in 15 top-flight appearances so far this term, likely with support from William Fitzgerald and Frank Liivak on the wings.

Kailin Barlow should complete the attacking unit in an advanced midfield role, while Greg Bolger and David Cawley will again partner up in the engine room.

Bohemians possible starting lineup:

Talbot; Benn, Nowak, Radkowski, Flores; McManus, McDonnell; Twardek, Coote, McDaid; Afolabi

Sligo Rovers possible starting lineup:

McNicholas, Morahan, Brannefalk, Lafferty, Hutchinson; Bolger, Cawley; Fitzgerald, Barlow, Liivak; Mata

We say: Bohemians 2-1 Sligo Rovers

Previews by email

Top News

6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The agent of Barcelona forward Vitor Roque has suggested his client will seek a permanent move if he fails to secure regular playing time. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly held talks with the representatives of Real Madrid forward Joselu. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United equalled an unwanted defensive record in the heavy 4-0 defeat to Crystal Palace. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Fulham and Ipswich Town are reportedly both interested in signing Coventry City midfielder Ben Sheaf this summer. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace completed their first-ever Premier League double over Manchester United in astonishing style as they decimated the woeful Red Devils 4-0 at Selhurst Park. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Sporting Lisbon forward Viktor Gyokeres has refused to rule out a summer departure amid interest from Arsenal and Chelsea. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona have reportedly decided against signing Atletico Madrid forward Joao Felix on a permanent deal. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City head coach Enzo Maresca is reportedly attracting interest from La Liga. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal have reportedly added Stuttgart striker Serhou Guirassy to their potential list of striker targets. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six days on from a gripping Champions League semi-final first leg, Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund reunite for the return fixture on Tuesday at the Parc des Princes. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United have announced that manager David Moyes will leave the club when his contract expires at the end of the season. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Two continental titans with 20 European Cup/Champions League crowns between them prepare for battle at the Bernabeu on Wednesday night, where Real Madrid and Bayern Munich square off in the second leg of their semi-final. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Cole Palmer has matched Chelsea legend Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink's record of achieving 30 goal contributions in his first season at the club. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea head coach Mauricio Pochettino has been given an 'ultimatum' by the club's board regarding his future, according to a report. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool have reportedly identified the Feyenoord duo of Mats Wieffer and Lutsharel Geertruida as potential signings in the upcoming transfer window. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Virgil van Dijk has stated that he is 'very happy' at Liverpool and intends to be a part of the club's big transition when Jurgen Klopp departs as manager at the end of the season. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The first leg lived up to the billing, and Real Madrid and Bayern Munich would do well to increase the entertainment factor in the second leg of their Champions League semi-final on Wednesday evening. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly considering selling Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho as part of a potential summer clearout to generate funds for new signings. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Tottenham Hotspur head coach Ange Postecoglou was unbothered by Cristian Romero and Emerson Royal's on-field squabble in their 4-2 Premier League loss to Liverpool on Sunday. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The Parc des Princes is the venue for this week's first Champions League contest, as Paris Saint-Germain and Borussia Dortmund renew hostilities six days on from squaring off at the Signal Iduna Park. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk A Peru international right-back currently making a name for himself in Denmark has revealed his desire to play for Arsenal one day. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City are reportedly preparing to sell striker Liam Delap to the highest bidder in this summer's transfer window. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has hinted that he will be remaining at Anfield this summer to help oversee the club's transition in the post-Jurgen Klopp era. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Erik ten Hag disclosed that Manchester United's representatives have visited Jadon Sancho at Borussia Dortmund to discuss the possibility of his return to Old Trafford next season. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Regarded as one of the favourites to conquer the continent this summer, the pressure could hardly be weighing heavier on the shoulders of Gareth Southgate's England ahead of their pilgrimage to Germany for Euro 2024. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk West Ham United have reportedly agreed terms with Julen Lopetegui to succeed David Moyes as manager at the end of the season. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk The continent's best will soon come together for the latest summer gathering, as 24 nations vie for glory at this year's Euro 2024 Championships across the German landscape. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool striker Darwin Nunez appears to have removed nearly all traces of the club from his Instagram account amid rumours of a possible exit from Anfield this summer. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Six days on from a five-goal extravaganza in the first leg of their Europa Conference League semi-final showdown, Club Brugge and Fiorentina reunite for their return battle on Belgian soil on Wednesday. 6 May 2024 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich head coach Thomas Tuchel is facing a couple of defensive quandaries ahead of the second leg of their Champions League semi-final with Real Madrid at the Bernabeu on Wednesday evening.
Sat 11 May, 16:00
A
Napoli Napoli
-
sch
Bologna Bologna
Sun 12 May, 10:30
A
Lazio Lazio
-
sch
Empoli Empoli