LEAGUE OF IRELAND PREMIER DIVISIONTHERE'S A hint of unstoppable force and immovable object about this evening's clash between Cork City and Bohemians at Turner's Cross, with the visitors laying a run of 18 league games unbeaten on the line against a home side that have managed 10 without defeat themselves.
The Dubliners could go seven points clear at the top if they win but City manager Alan Mathews prefers to view the game as an opportunity for his side to capitalise on a string of strong displays over the past couple of months.
"It's a big game," he says. "We've gotten ourselves into a strong position to push on in the last series of games but to do that we really have to win this game. They've been doing well but we should have had something out of the Dalymount game and it's important that we make amends this time."
City have a full squad to choose from but Bohemians still have problems, particularly in central defence where Thomas and Owen Heary look set to start together again. "I thought the two were very good against Rovers," says Pat Fenlon. "We were a bit weaker at set-pieces but the two are better at playing the ball than our normal combination and they give us different options.
"Their judgment and reading of the game are first class. We managed to clear our lines effectively under pressure and succeeded in building passing movements from the back.
"Overall, I am not overly concerned about the position."
Conor Powell could start after coming on during the 2-1 win over Shamrock Rovers on Tuesday, leaving Fenlon to decide on whether to accommodate Mark Rossiter, who did well in the derby game, in midfield.
Bohemians, meanwhile, have dismissed reports that the club is breaching the league rule on player wages. "It's been suggested that we are spending 95 per cent of our income on wages," said the club's honorary secretary Gerry Conway, "but the figures quoted appear to include the wages of the management team, which should be omitted, and omit the income from the property deal, which should be included. We've talked to the FAI, our accountants and our solicitors and we're happy that we're well below the 65 per cent ceiling."
Asked about reports that an egm is to be called by members angry about the removal of Michael Nugent from the board, Conway continued: "It emerged that Michael had been co-opted onto the board when he didn't have the continuous membership required to be a director. I haven't received anything about an egm or heard anything concrete about what specifically would be on the agenda for such a meeting, but I am expecting something at this stage.
"The members have every right to have their say, though, and to change the rules if that's what they want. It's a democratic club, that's the beauty of Bohemians."
In tonight's other games, Galway and UCD meet at Terryland Park with both sides looking to move out of the bottom three. The home side have Alan Keane suspended while the students are without injured duo Shane McFaul and Ian Bermingham.
"There's not much of a gap between Galway and ourselves and if we can get a win it will lift some of the pressure off us," said manager Pete Mahon.
Bray will be without Ger Rowe for Sligo Rovers' visit but Paul Cook has his usual array of difficulties. Paul McTiernan is fit again but Gavin Peers and Rafael Cretaro are suspended while Steve Feeney (hamstring) and Matthew Judge (cheekbone) are injured.
Finally, Shamrock Rovers will look to bounce back from Tuesday's defeat by Bohemians when they play Finn Harps at Tolka Park. Aidan Price is injured (ankle) for Rovers while Seán O'Connor is suspended but Robbie Creevy is back in contention and Joseph Ndo may make his debut. Pat Scully will rest at least a couple of the players that featured at Dalymount.
Harps have Declan Boyle and Stephen Parkhouse back from suspension while Aaron Labonte is out injured and Davy Byrne is battling a hamstring problem.
YESTERDAY
OLYMPIC GAMES - Group A: Australia 1 Serbia 1, Ivory Coast 1 Argentina 2. Group B: Japan 1 USA 1, Netherlands 0 Nigeria 0. Group C: Brazil 1 Belgium 0, China 1 New Zealand 1. Group D: Honduras 0 Italy 3, South Korea 1 Cameroon 1.
TONIGHT
7.45 unless stated
LEAGUE OF IRELAND - Premier Division: Bray Wanderers v Sligo Rovers, Cork City v Bohemians, Galway Utd v UCD, Shamrock Rovers v Finn Harps (8.0),
First Division: Sporting Fingal v Dundalk, Waterford Utd v Limerick 37, Wexford Youths v Shelbourne (8.0) .
