AIRTRICITY LEAGUE:PAT FENLON takes his Bohemians side to Richmond Park for what might be his last game in charge of the Phibsborough outfit this evening hoping to see his players bounce back from last weekend's home defeat by Galway United.
Club secretary Denis Maher said yesterday he expected Fenlon would be in charge for the game and that talks about his broader position “were ongoing” after what he described as “a good discussion” between the two sides yesterday.
Focusing on the game, Fenlon said his players were punished for over-confidence last Friday – although you’d have thought they would have known better when Seán Connor is involved against his former club – and that they would have to go out and earn the points tonight against a St Patrick’s side that, like is own, is still finding its feet a little.
“Pat’s have been scoring plenty of goals,” he said. “They have shown glimpses of being very good and glimpses, like ourselves, of needing still to work out what way they want to play.”
The hosts will be without their manager Peter Mahon, whose mother passed away this week, for the game and so John Gill takes charge again.
They are again without defenders Conor Kenna and Brian Shortall, and with Shane Guthrie out on loan to Dundalk that means something of a crisis at the heart of their defence.
“We didn’t want to let Shane go on loan but the days of just writing an extra cheque for an extra player are gone,” says Gill. “We let him go to Dundalk in order to free up some of the budget to bring in players in other positions as we felt we were well covered at centre half but we’ve been a little unlucky with injuries over the past couple of weeks.”
Anto Flood, though, is out of the Bohemians attack while Christy Fagan and Ger O’Brien return for the visitors from injury and suspension respectively.
Shamrock Rovers are in Drogheda where they will again be without Craig Sives (hamstring) while Chris Turner and Stephen O’Donnell face late tests on calf and hamstring problems respectively.
Alan McNally returns for the hosts and manager Mick Cooke has options in the wake of his side’s EA Sports Cup win this week. “After Monday night I will have a few selection problems, the lads played very well and it’s going to leave me with a few things to think about. There are places up for grabs and the lads just have to prove to me that they want them.”
Sligo Rovers will again be without Josph Ndo for their trip to Galway although Derek Foran comes into the reckoning at the back after coming through the win over Portadown without any problems. United will be missing Gary Curran (broken metatarsal) while Steve Feeney is a major doubt with an ankle problem.
At Oriel Park, Dundalk’s Mark Quigley will be looking to maintain his early season form against a UCD side that hasn’t scored in the league since the opening night of the season.
Three goals in the League Cup this week will generate some confidence amongst Martin Russell’s men but they must head to Dundalk without Seán Harding. Former UCD player Greg Bolger could be out for a couple of months with a thigh strain while Dundalk manager Ian Foster is also without left back Eoghan Osborne but he should have Stephen Maher available prior to the 23-year-old undergoing surgery on a groin problem.
Bray Wanderers, meanwhile, will be without Gary Shaw and Dave Webster due to injury and suspension respectively for the visit of Derry City while Daire Doyle and Joe Kendrick are doubts.
Stephen Kenny’s Derry travel without Barry Molloy (ankle) and Michael McCrudden (ribs).
