Dundalk will be aiming for their first win of the season at the tenth attempt when they take on Bohemians in a rearranged SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division fixture at Dalymount Park on Monday night (7.45pm).
The Lilywhites go into the game on the back of Friday’s scoreless draw with St Patrick’s Athletic at Oriel Park, which was the first game in charge for interim duo Liam Burns and Brian Gartland, who will continue in the dugout for this trip to the capital.
Dundalk – currently four points adrift at the foot of the standings – showed improvements in the final third but were still unable to score against the Saints, with their last home league goal coming back in October. However, they have netted in three of their five away games this year.
They have collected just four points from the 36 on offer so far, with just one of those coming on the road, at Shamrock Rovers on the opening day. Since then, they have suffered defeats at St Pat’s, Shelbourne and Derry City, as well as St Mochta’s in the PTSB Leinster Senior Cup.
Bohemians, meanwhile, were impressive in their 2-1 win over Shels at Tolka Park on Friday, which saw them bounce back from their home loss to Waterford seven days earlier.
The Gypsies, now under new boss and former Dundalk assistant Alan Reynolds, have been inconsistent this season, with four wins, four defeats and just a single draw. But their latest victory lifted them into the top half and another win on Monday would see them rise to 16 points, alongside Derry in second.
This is the first league meeting of the sides this year but they now prepare for two clashes in the space of just 11 days, with Bohs coming to Oriel Park on April 26th. The clubs did play each other in the Leinster Senior Cup in February but fielded their U20 teams in a 0-0 draw in Louth.
Last season, Bohemians won both meetings at Dalymount Park, 2-1 in February and 3-2 in July, the latter proving particularly costly and one in which Dundalk led going into the final ten minutes.
Dundalk took four points from the two games at Oriel, with the May draw seeing Bohs score two late goals to salvage a point. Dundalk’s last win in Dalymount was in August
This is the first of back-to-back away games for Dundalk, who now travel to Sligo on Friday, in a change to the originally scheduled Saturday.
Team News
Zak Johnson, Jamie Gullan and Scott High are doubtful after picking up knocks in the 0-0 draw with St Patrick’s Athletic on Friday night while Ciaran McGuckin is injured.
Match Officials
Referee: Eoghan O’Shea
Assistants: Michelle O’Neill and Brian Fenlon
Fourth Official: Paul Norton
