Bohemians will be looking to move into the top three when they welcome league leaders Shamrock Rovers to Dalymount Park in the League of Ireland Premier on Friday evening.

The hosts are back on home soil after a difficult pair of away fixtures, while Shamrock will be hoping it make it four wins on the bounce as they aim to retain their title.

Match preview

Bohemians return to Dalymount Park after a pair of away matches in the space of five days resulted in just the single point, with Declan Devine's men playing out a goalless draw with second-placed Derry City on June 9.

A trip to ninth-placed Cork City four days earlier did not end so well, with goals from Matthew Healy and Daniel Krezic securing all three points for the hosts at Turner's Cross.

The Bohs currently sit fourth in the League of Ireland Premier standings, just a point behind third-placed St Patrick's Athletic while also having played a game fewer.

Devine's men have actually fared better on their travels so far this term, with only 16 of their 34 league points coming in front of their home faithful.

Bohemians possess the joint-worst attacking record in the top five but have made up for it with their defensive stubbornness - only Derry City and Shelbourne have conceded fewer than the Bohs in the entire division.

Current champions Shamrock kept their title charge on track last Friday with a comfortable 4-0 success over strugglers University College Dublin, representing the club's third straight maximum.

A trio of recent wins have all been coupled with clean sheets after Dundalk were hit for two and Sligo Rovers for three without reply during what has been a productive June so far.

Stephen Bradley's men sit top of the pile in the League of Ireland Premier, six points clear of second-placed Derry City as they look set to claim the Irish crown for a fourth successive campaign.

Graham Burke leads Rovers' scoring charts this term with seven goals - the 29-year-old is on track to surpass the 11-goal tally he achieved in both of 2021 and 2022 seasons.

Shamrock have earned 21 of their 42 league points away from home but have an extraordinary defensive record while on their travels, conceding just three times in 10 League of Ireland outings so far this campaign.

Team News

Bohemians are expected to be without the services of Dean Williams as the Irishman recovers from an ankle injury, with a return date for the striker currently unknown.

James Akintunde and Dylan Connolly have tussled for the right to lead the Bohs line in the absence of Williams - the Englishman should be handed another start on Friday night.

Shamrock goalkeeper Alan Mannus continues his recover from a finger injury and will not be fit enough to attempt to add to his five clean sheets this term, meaning Leon Pohls will start in between the sticks for the visitors.

Centre-back Daniel Cleary picked up a foot injury in the win at Sligo Rovers earlier this month, with Lee Grace, Roberto Lopes and Sean Hoare set to be the defensive trio for Rovers in this one.

Bohemians possible starting lineup:
Talbot; Horton, Nowak, Radkowski, Kirk; Buckley, Flores, McDaid, McDonnell, Coote; Akintunde

Shamrock Rovers possible starting lineup:
Pohls; Hoare, Lopes, Grace; Farrugia, Poom, O'Neil, Byrne; Kavanagh; Burke, Greene

We say: Bohemians 0-2 Shamrock Rovers

Bohemians earned a respectable point away at second-placed Derry City last time out, but they now face a Shamrock Rovers side who are clearly the best in the league at this moment.

Rovers are firing in attack and keeping solid defensively - we can envisage another maximum for the league leaders to strengthen their grip on the League of Ireland title.


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