Alan Reynolds says Bohemians need to maintain the same energy – on the pitch and in the stands – from Monday’s Dublin Derby win when Sligo Rovers come to Dalymount Park.
Bohs claimed their third win over Shamrock Rovers of the season earlier this week with Dayle Rooney opening scoring in the second minute and James Clarke adding the second in the 39th minute.
In reality, the half-time scoreline flattered the Hoops after an intense opening 45 minutes during which Bohs piled men forward and bombarded the visitors in what was perhaps their most comprehensive performance of the season.
Reynolds said: “It was an energetic performance. We were solid throughout, at the back and in attack, and there was great determination running right through the team. To a man, you couldn’t fault any of them.
“We started with the right tempo and aggression, and the backing we got from the crowd helped us maintain it.
“Going into the game, you are a little worried that with it being on a Monday night the atmosphere might not live up to what we have been lucky enough to become used to in these games on Friday nights but that wasn’t the case, it was incredible.
“I am never someone to go out and rally the fans but I felt it was important to do that before the game on Monday. Our fans responded – they lifted the roof off – and our players gave it back in spades with a brilliant response and a brilliant result.
“But with such a quick turnaround, you have to move on quickly. The players soaked in the chants, the applause and they mayhem in the stands on Monday night but the next morning you have to draw a line under it.
“It’s brilliant that our fans have the bragging rights and can enjoy it for a few days, but as players and staff you can’t dwell on it, particularly when you’ve another massive game four days later, so we were straight back to work.”
After a frustrating result away to Waterford last Friday, that note of caution from Reynolds is understandable.
He said: “As a group we’ve worked so hard to get where we are in the table after such a difficult start to the season.
“But then you go down to Waterford aiming to win and where our fans are expecting a result but you come away empty-handed. That’s the nature of this league. We just can’t let our standards slip an inch or we will get punished.
“We were punished in Waterford and we can’t let that happen against Sligo Rovers. Sligo caused us a lot of problems when they came here in April, and we needed a late goal to beat them in the Showgrounds, so any result against them will require hard work and us to maintain the standards we showed on Monday night.
“We started brilliantly on Monday but we struggled to assert ourselves in Waterford. We can’t afford to repeat that against Sligo, so we need to keep pushing our standards. Players don’t need any extra motivation for derby games like Monday but those standards have to be what we are aiming for in every game.”
And that goes for supporters too, with Reynolds adding: “The noise levels in the stands on Monday were something special. We’ve obviously enjoyed wins over Rovers at the Aviva and in Tallaght this season but to do it on your home turf is even more special.
“I’m sure a lot of our fans have no voice left after Monday but we need that passion in the stands again. It gives everyone on that pitch a lift and reminds them who and what they are playing for.
“So hopefully between now and kick-off, our fans will have dosed up on the Lemsips, the Strepsils, the pints – whatever it takes to loosen the vocal cords up and drive us on again.”
Team news
Bohemians are without Archie Meekison (knee), Alex Lacey (hamstring) and Lys Mousset (hamstring) but Connor Parsons (hamstring) is back in contention.