Alan Reynolds says Bohemians need to draw a line under a disappointing April and start afresh with purpose in May.
Having been the form team in the league in the first series of games, Bohs host Derry City on May Day looking to reverse a form trend that has seen them win in their last seven games.
Reynolds said: “There is no shying away from the fact that our form needs to improve quickly. After a good start to the season in February and March, we have had a bad April – we need to draw a line under it and ensure that we have a good May, starting against Derry.
“We have gone from being the only unbeaten team in the division to losing three games in a row. We come into this game in fourth place but our form over the past month has not been good enough.
“It’s my job as manager and the staff’s job collectively to really help the players when you are on runs like this, so we are not making any excuses.
“There needs to be perspective on that as well. It has been an incredibly competitive season so far. Shamrock Rovers and Dundalk are the only clubs to have lost fewer games than us but it is up to us as a management team and squad to find a way forward of getting our form back on track. We have the same group of players who started the season so well so it is up to us to get them back to those levels of performances again.
“This weekend’s opposition, Derry who were second last season and Shelbourne who were champions two seasons ago, have had difficult patches too. Both are going to be very difficult games but my focus is on our performances and our results – we know that we need a response.
“I think most supporters and neutrals would agree with me that our performance a fortnight ago against Shamrock Rovers deserved a result: If not a win, at the very least a draw. But our performances weren’t close to what we are capable of against Sligo Rovers the week before that or against St Pat’s last Friday.
“We got off to the perfect start in both of those games – taking the lead against Sligo here three weeks ago through Zayn Myers after just eight minutes and taking the lead against Pat’s last week after just eight seconds.
“But we shot ourselves in the foot in both games. Sligo have gone on to win their next two games after beating us, and St Pat’s win against us moved them back top of the table. It shows how tight this league is and how quickly things can change – and we need to make sure things change in our favour.”
Reynolds has seen plenty of determination in his team to dig themselves out of their current rut and get back to winning ways.
He said: “I have great belief in this squad. They know that the only way to do that is through hard work and resolve. We need to be ruthless in everything we do. But just like we didn’t get carried away when we were getting plaudits in the first series of games, we have to take the criticism we have received over the last couple of weeks on the chin as well.
“I would ask our supporters to be patient though. We have some inexperienced players in our squad who have bags of potential. They will make mistakes but they have real quality and real commitment. They need your support, and they need a lift.
“They won’t be licking their wounds – they know the job we have ahead and they want to succeed at this club but your support and your encouragement can make all the difference.
“We have hit a bump in the road but there are plenty of twists and turns ahead. We all want the same thing, for Bohs to be successful. So get behind your team, let’s pull together again and I am confident that we have the quality and belief to get our form back to where we want it to be.”
Team news
Bohemians are without Jordan Flores (ankle).
Match sponsor: Doramics
Trading since 1980, Doramics is Dublin’s longest established Tile and Bathroom Showroom.
Branches in Santry and Stillorgan for all your tiling and sanitary ware needs.
Match ball sponsors
In Memory of Ciaran Buckley
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The Pepperoni Lads