LEAGUE OF IRELANDWITH SEVEN league titles as a player and manager already adorning his CV, Pat Fenlon isn't one to get overly excited about topping the table with scarcely a third of the season gone.
Avenging their only defeat of the season to date with a 1-0 win at St Patrick's Athletic on Tuesday night saw Fenlon's Bohemians hurdle the early pacesetters to move a point clear at the top. A demanding home game with Sligo Rovers tonight has Fenlon fully focused, however.
"It's a good feeling to be top and a reward for the players," said Fenlon. "But it's too long to go to be getting carried away. There are too many good teams in it and too many difficult games. I still don't think the likes of Cork and Drogheda are out of it yet.
"I think Rovers are a very talented side with some very good players. I said before that I believe Sligo can split some of the bigger sides in the league table."
A suspension to Stephen O'Donnell forces Fenlon to adjust his midfield, though John Paul Kelly's expected return from tendonitis offers options.
An international call-up for Benin captain Romuald Boco and a suspension to defender-cum-midfielder Danny Ventre means Sligo manager Paul Cook must make changes also.
A knee injury to playmaker Keith Fahey could see a first start of the season for Joseph Ndo in St Patrick's Athletic's midfield for their trip to bottom-of-the-table Galway United. Defender Stephen Paisley (groin) also joins John Frost and Michael Keane on the injured list.
Captain John Fitzgerald is a slight doubt with a back injury.
Galway may play Wes Charles at left back in place of the suspended Marc McCulloch, with Ollie Fenn coming into central defence.
"The lads know that our home form needs to dramatically improve and hopefully we will see this improvement against Pat's," said Galway boss Jeff Kenna.
Shamrock Rovers' injury problems have mounted ahead of their visit to Bray Wanderers, with captain Aidan Price (calf), defender Ger O'Brien (back/hamstring) and midfielder Stephen Rice (knee) joining Dessie Baker, Chris Mulhall, John Martin, Robbie Creevy, Pat Flynn and Darren Stapleton on the sidelines.
Rovers manager Pat Scully is hoping to better four successive draws with a first victory in 10 games.
Alan Gough continues in goal for Bray for Chris O'Connor (hamstring). Midfielder Gary McCabe is also absent having received a red card for dissent after the final whistle in Tuesday's 2-2 draw at UCD.
Scorer of their late penalty in that game, UCD wait on right-back Alan Mahon who injured a knee which forced him off shortly afterwards ahead of the visit of Finn Harps to the UCD Bowl. Manager Pete Mahon confirmed striker Paul Byrne is definitely out after injuring a hamstring.
Finn Harps defender Aaron Labonte is out as he awaits surgery on a knee next week. Shaun Holmes, Chris Breen and Stuart Malcolm all face fitness tests.
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