Tallaght Stadium to host big Dublin derby

A BIG crowd is expected in Tallaght Stadium on Monday evening for the big Dublin derby between Shamrock Rovers and Bohemians in the Airtricity League.

Bohemians come into the game unbeaten in three matches against The Hoops however they lost to Drogheda United 1-0 on Friday in the league and will be looking to bounce back.

Rovers will be without the services of the injured Rory Gaffney, Aaron McEneff and Sean Hoare and will be looking to build on the win over Galway United and the controversial draw with Derry City on Friday.

Speaking about the draw against Derry, Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley said: “My view hasn’t changed.

It is a really difficult one to take. I’m still really angry about it. It is clear for everyone to see what happened. The assistant referee also needs to help out the referee.

They speak throughout the game and it is such a big decision. He is ten yards away and has nobody in his way. He can see it quite clearly but obviously he is not strong enough.”

On the game itself Bradley said: “Once we worked it out, we had them where we wanted them.

When we got to the top half of the pitch, we knew Johnny’s pace would cause them problems. Dylan had a lot to do but where he is at the moment, the level he has been playing at, you shouldn’t be surprised by that type of finish. He has been really really good.

“If you are to break it down, first assists or second assists, Dylan has been really important and has been involved in most of the good things we have done this year.

I’m surprised that it was only his first league goal of the year, but he has added so much more to the team and this season he has played at a really high level. We have seen real maturity from him this year.”

Ahead of tonight’s match in Tallaght, the Rovers boss told the club’s website: “Regardless of where Bohs are, it doesn’t concern us. It is about us focusing on what we do, focus on our performance level and make sure our mentality is right and when our chances come, which they always do, we have to make sure we take them.

“We are hurting from Friday as we feel we should have three points.

We need to try and go and perform as we did on Friday in Derry and like we did on Monday in Galway (winning 2-1) or in the first half in Dalymount Park when we should have taken our chances to kill the game.

We do that and we’ll be fine. We have to focus on bringing that level of performance.”