National League Previews

Bohemians v Galway Utd - Dalymount Park, 7.45

Hearing Bohemians supporters calling for him to go after last week's 1-1 draw at Belfield disappointed manager Pete Mahon but he's determined to get their title retention challenge back on track.

Their 6-2 rout of Dublin City in the League Cup on Tuesday will have gone some way towards easing the Bohemians' fans ire. "It's not nice to hear," said Mahon of the Belfield chants, "but that's part and parcel of football. I pick the team and while I don't play the matches, the manager will always take the brunt of it when results are going against you. But it is wrong to point the finger at any one individual. We are all in this together. We share the good times and the bad."

Defender Avery John is Mahon's chief concern as the Trinidadian struggles to shake off a groin strain while yesterday evening the manager placed Paul Byrne on the transfer list.

Second-bottom Galway, hoping to build on their 8-0 defeat of Monaghan United last Friday night, see the return of Tom Silke after he missed their League Cup defeat to Limerick on Monday with a back injury.

Last two seasons: 2000/01 -Bohemians 5 Galway United 0, Galway United 0 Bohemians 2, Bohemians 2 Galway United 2; 2001/2002 - Galway United 1 Bohemians 5.

Current league form: Bohemians - D L L D D; Galway United - D L L L W.

Leading league scorers: Bohemians: Crowe (10); Galway United: Ryan (three).

Referee: A Buttimer (Cork).

Betting: Home: 2/5; Draw: 5/2; Away: 6/1.

St Patrick's Athletic v UCD - Richmond Park, 7.45

It's back to the basics of putting the ball in the back of the net for St Patrick's Athletic after their failure to take their chances resulted in their eight-match unbeaten run coming to an end with a 3-1 defeat in Derry last week.

"We played very well," said the St Patrick's manager Pat Dolan, "but the fact their goalkeeper got man-of-the-match tells you something. They were able to score the goals and we weren't and that's what the game is all about."

Dolan can't expect any favours from a UCD side that's growing in stature under the guidance of player/manager Paul Doolin and his coach, Noel White. "UCD can challenge for a place in Europe," said Dolan. "They have a good blend of youth and experience."

UCD have lost just three of Doolin's 11 matches since he took charge in September and have an eight-point cushion over the bottom three. "We've a good balance to the team at the moment," said Doolin. "We saw out in Bray in mid-week that we have a couple of young fringe players who could come in and do a job for us as well."

Last two seasons: 2000/2001: St Patrick's Athletic 1 UCD 1, UCD 1 St Patrick's Athletic 1, St. Patrick's Athletic 2 UCD 1. 2001/2002: UCD 0 St Patrick's Athletic 0.

Current league form: St Patrick's Athletic: W D W W L; UCD: W L W W D.

Leading league scorers: Mbabazi (seven); UCD: R Martin (five).

Referee: A Kelly (Cork)

Betting: Home: 4/7; Draw: 9/4; Away: 5/1