Bohemians vs St Patrick's Athletic: Title Hopes & Relegation Fears Collide in Dublin Derby

Bohemians will be looking to move seven points clear of the relegation playoff spot when they host St Patrick's Athletic at Dalymount Park on Monday in the League of Ireland. The hosts are third last with 37 points after 32 games and are one position below ninth-placed Drogheda United, while the away team are in fifth place with 47 points and could end Monday four points behind first-placed Shelbourne with just three games remaining.

The home side drew 1-1 with Derry City last time out in the league on Friday in what was an evenly contested match given Derry produced two big chances while Bohemians fashioned one. Friday's game was the second match in a row that Bohs played Derry City, having lost 2-0 in the semi-final of the FAI Cup on October 4.

Manager Alan Reynolds will be delighted with the point considering his side are now three points clear of Drogheda, who occupy the division's relegation playoff spot, as well as having a game in hand on their relegation rivals. Reynolds's side have won two, drawn two and lost two of their last six league games and need six points from their final four top-flight matches to guarantee safety, though they are unlikely to need six points due to the fact Drogheda still have to play first-placed Shelbourne and second-placed Shamrock Rovers.

Bohemians have a poor record at home in recent weeks, winning one, drawing four and losing five of their last 10 top-flight matches at Dalymount Park. Opponents St Patrick's Athletic come into the clash in outstanding form having won their last seven games in all competitions. In that period, the visitors scored 20 times and conceded on six occasions, and they also beat both Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne in the league.

Saints beat Shelbourne 3-2 on September 30 in their most recent league outing, a match in which they were winning 2-0 after 62 minutes but only won thanks to Al-Amin Kazeem's 88th-minute winner after Shelbourne scored in the 76th and 80th minutes. Boss Stephen Kenny, who was in charge of the Ireland national team until November 2023, said in the aftermath of his side's victory that a title challenge with just four games remaining is unrealistic.

Of the 10 clubs in the top flight, Kenny's team have scored the third most goals per game though they have conceded the fifth most per match. St Patrick's Athletic have won their last three away games in the league, but they drew six and lost six of the previous 12 fixtures on the road.

Team News

The hosts will be without defender Rob Cornwall for the remainder of the season due to an anterior cruciate ligament injury, while forward James Akintunde and midfielders James McManus, Keith Buckley and Martin Miller will all miss out. Centre-back Leigh Kavanagh could feature in some capacity should he recover from an illness, but Reynolds may continue with Jordan Flores and Jevon Mills in the heart of defence. Bohemians will likely start Adam McDonnell and Dawson Devoy in a double pivot in midfield behind attackers Archie Meekison, Ross Tierney, Dayle Rooney and striker James Clarke.

As for the visitors, they will be unable to select midfielder Jamie Lennon, who has accumulated too many yellow cards and is suspended for Monday's game. Forward Cian Kavanagh and midfielder Romal Palmer are also set to miss out for the next few weeks as a result of respective back and knee injuries. Aaron Bolger may come into the XI in place of Lennon, and he could be joined in midfield by Brandon Kavanagh and Christopher Forrester.

Possible Starting Lineups

Bohemians possible starting lineup: Chorazka; Byrne, Mills, Flores, Kirk; Devoy, McDonnell; Meekison, Tierney, Rooney; Clarke

St Patrick's Athletic possible starting lineup: Anang; Sjoberg, Redmond, Grivosti, Breslin; Bolger, Kavanagh, Forrester; Elbouzedi, Keena, Mulraney

Preview

Given the exceptional form of St Patrick's Athletic, it is difficult to see how Bohemians can avoid defeat. Additionally, considering the hosts have been poor at home in recent times, it would not be surprising if they conceded multiple goals on Monday night.

Bohemians: Relegation Worries Remain

Bohs will still have relegation worries on their mind when they play their second last home game of the season at Dalymount Park on Monday night against Dublin rivals St. Patrick’s Athletic (kick-off 7.45pm). They picked up a valuable point away to Derry City on Friday night but as their fellow relegation candidates Drogheda United did likewise at Waterford, they will still need to get something from this clash to maintain eighth position in the table come the end of the season.

Bohs were on track for a vital three points at the Brandywell on Friday night as they led for 61 minutes of the game through a 20th minute Archie Meekson goal but they were eventually reeled in when Pat Hoban scored an equaliser to leave it 1-1 at the end of the game.

Bohs boss Alan Reynolds reflecting on Friday’s match speaking to his club’s media team said: “It was a real game of two halves and ultimately I was pleased with our performances in both halves for different reasons. In the first half, I was pleased because we showed real quality. Having played the same side on our home patch a week previously, I was deeply frustrated with that performance and how despite having so much possession, we failed to test their keeper. But I think in the first half we showed we have quality, and we showed we are capable of putting it up to top teams. In the second half, I was pleased with the players for a different reason. I was pleased because they showed a grit and determination that has too often eluded us this season. Derry came after us and they have real quality in their team to do so, but I felt that we battled for everything. Ultimately on another day it’s a game we could have won. Derry should have had a man sent off and with that I think we would have had enough about us to win the game. In isolation it is a good result. The Brandywell has always been a difficult place for any team to get a result so we are pleased to get a result. But it’s also another draw for us where I feel we could have won the game. That’s our tenth draw in the league this season and when we look back we know we have left a lot of points behind us in games we were capable of winning. That has been one of the disappointing aspects of this season, that we have had a platform in games where we are right in it to win but haven’t had enough about us to put teams away.”

The Gypsies currently have a four-point advantage over the Drogs who occupy ninth place, but crucially they have four games left to ensure they are not dragged into a promotion/ relegation play off. The County Louth side have only three games remaining with a possibly more difficult run in as they have to face title contenders Shamrock Rovers and Shelbourne.

Manager Alan Reynolds has quite a few injury worries to content with as they head towards the end of the season. He may be forced to use Jordan Flores again as an emergency centre back on Monday night as Leigh Kavanagh is out, while at the other end of the pitch he will probably continue with the use of James Clarke as an emergency centre forward in the absence of the injured James Akintunde.

St Patrick's Athletic: Title Hopes Alive

The Saints are the best performing team in the league at present, only losing twice in their last 15 games, with one of those losses being against Istanbul Basaksehir in the European Conference League play-off. Their last five record is easily the best in the league, gaining maximum points, scoring 15 goals and only conceding four, a performance level that puts them back in contention for a top four position.

After a stuttering start to his reign, Stephen Kenny has transformed his side to become one of the most exciting to watch in the league, and, as he alluded to in his pre-match interview, they will be looking to maintain that form when they make the short trip to Phibsborough on Minday night. Pats and Sligo Rovers are both locked together on 47 points in fifth and sixth place respectively (Pats have a much better goal difference), each with 32 games played, so a top four finish is well within the Inchicore's side grasp.

Kenny spoke with the Pats media team in advance of the game and he said: “It’s a good game for us, we want to keep our rhythm, keep winning games and finish the season strongly. Bohs on the other hand are desperate for points, they will be absolutely fighting for everything so will have earn anything we get against them. Our players have been very consistent and showed a good attitude and applied themselves really well. We have got a tough run in, Bohemians on Monday, Galway on Friday and we finish at Derry City and Sligo Rovers. We have four tough games, we want to finish strong, and first up is Bohs so we have to make sure we are ready for them.’’

Match Stats

There have been two draws between the sides already this season, 0-0 at Richmond Park and 2-2 at Dalymount, while Bohs won the first clash of the season at Richmond Park by 1-0. An 85th minute goal from Jordan Flores separated the sides on that occasion in late February.