Focus reverts to the Sports Direct FAI Cup this Friday as Sligo Rovers return to the capital for the second time in less than a week to take on Bohemians at Dalymount Park.
For the second week running, midfielder Jad Hakiki is the Bit O’Red’s only injury concern ahead of this third round trip to Phibsboro. The Dubliner is yet to recover from a hamstring injury he picked up against Shels at the Showgrounds recently and is doubtful to be fit in time to take part.
Defender Paddy McClean is available for selection after the red card he was shown against St Patrick’s Athletic last Sunday, was overturned by an appeals committee.
Friday will be Rovers’ fourth game against Alan Reynolds’ side this season and a third journey to Dalymount, with Friday’s visitors yet to pick up a win against Bohs this year.
Manager John Russell returns to the scene of Rovers’ famous 2010 and 2011 FAI Cup semi-final victories. Russell was involved in both games as a player, both of which Rovers won by a goal to nil on the way to successive cup triumphs at the Aviva Stadium.
With four all-Premier Division ties taking place in this round, the Rovers boss feels Friday’s knock-out tie could pose a favourable outcome for the winners.
“It’s a massive opportunity for both sides”, he tells sligorovers.com.
“You have four top flight teams that are guaranteed to be knocked out this weekend and if you can make it through, with a bit of luck you might find yourself with a decent draw in a quarter-final.
“We are yet to beat Bohs this season but all three games between us have been extremely tight. The first game up here, they pulled away late on and at the Showgrounds they won it with a last minute winner. Our last game up there back in June, we defended for our lives after going one up, we deal with everything and they score in the fifth minute of added time. I expect Friday will be just as competitive.
“We were hugely disappointed with how our last two games worked out. Against Shels, we created chances but didn’t take them and then against Pat’s, Paddy’s red obviously plays a huge part. Bu we didn’t see out the next 15 minutes or so of play and they hit us with a sucker punch early in the second half.
“So we’re looking for a more settled performance on Friday. We know we have more than enough in us to get through and of course Bohs will be very strong at home. They’ll have a big, boisterous crowd behind them as they always do but I expect we’ll pack out the away end as we have done the last few years up there.
“I don’t like the old cliches and that anything can happen. You need to be properly prepared and you need to make happen, what you want to happen. Bohs gave Shels all sorts of problems last weekend at Tolka and if we’re not set from minute one, they’ll do the same to us.
“I have huge belief in this group and this a big opportunity for them. It’s not a secret around Sligo that we would dearly love to go far in this competition this year.”
David Goulden