Many of Alan Reynolds’ Bohemians side tasted victory at Dalymount Park for the first time a fortnight ago and he has told them to start on the front foot again against Cork City.
Bohs got a much-needed win at home two weeks ago when they beat Sligo Rovers 4-2. They were unable to follow it up when they made the short trip to Tolka Park to face defending champions Shelbourne last week, falling to a 1-0 defeat.
Reynolds was frustrated at his side’s failure to break down a well-organised Shels side, but has backed them to start on the front foot when they return to Dalymount this week.
He said: “After a tricky period of form at Dalymount Park, we got our first win here a fortnight ago and that’s something we want to build on.
“We’re playing in front of our home fans, it meant a lot to the players to finally be able to celebrate with them in Dalymount so that’s a feeling we want to experience every time we play here.
“For a lot of the team, they are new to the club so it was their first time experiencing that. For others who have been here longer, there was a sense of relief but a reminder of how Dalymount can be rocking when they deliver, so that needs to drive them on now – that’s what we want every week.”
After the high of putting four goals past Sligo at Dalymount, Bohs failed to break down a Shelbourne side who have lost just one game this season.
Reynolds said: “Shelbourne are a good side but we know our form hasn’t been good enough. We’re disappointed with the performance. Again it’s a game that we lost by a single goal but we struggled to break them down and we didn’t test the keeper enough or ask enough questions of their defence.
“The only time we really asked questions of them was in the last ten minutes when we were chasing the game, so we have to be better than that.
“We have not asserted ourselves in games the way I believe our players are capable of but we are playing at home and it is a chance for us to rectify that.
“Cork have beaten us already this season so we know what they are capable of but we have good attacking players, we’re at home and we want to take the game to them and show again what we are capable of.
“We have good attacking players – we showed that here two weeks ago but we need to build their confidence and belief, so we are determined to get off to a good start, assert ourselves, and get the crowd behind the lads.”
Team news
Lys Mousset (Achilles), Liam Smith (groin) and Kian Best (ankle) are back in contention, but Alex Lacey (hamstring) remains out.