FROM THE HEART
Long’ issues Bohs rallying cry
KEITH LONG wants Bohemians to show their cynical side to help re-ignite their season.
Despite being the better team for much of the game, Friday’s heartbreaking 2-1 home defeat to Sligo Rovers made it five games without a win for the Gypsies.
Conor Levingston scored a fine goal in between two breakaway strikes, albeit well-taken, from Sligo’s Romeo Parkes, the winner coming in the 89th minute.
Bohs also lost leading scorer Dinny Corcoran to an ankle injury and skipper Derek Pender was sent off. While defender Dante Leverock also suffered a nasty head injury in the game.
The defeat completed a bad week for Bohs who had lost to a penalty in stoppage time at champions Dundalk last Monday.
“It was disappointing not to win the game, never mind come away with nothing from it,” said manager Long, right.
“We were the only team trying to win the game in the second-half.
“We played quite well, even going a goal down and then down to 10 men. It’s been a disappointing week for us.”
Sligo’s winner was a sucker punch as Levingston’s misplaced pass was clinically punished by the visitors.
“We gave the ball away in a bad area for the winning goal,” said Long.
“We really should be a little bit more cynical in the build-up and maybe give up a free kick and kill the attack. “They are moments that we need to improve on.
“Yes, we are young, of course. But sometimes you have to fail in order to succeed.
“We’re trying really hard and I thought the boys were really brave on the night, especially when going down to 10 men.
“We played some good football and created some chances only to get done on the counterattack.
“Going the goal down seemed to ignite us a little bit by injecting a bit of energy into the team.
“But we shouldn’t have to go 1-0 down in order for that to happen. “We need to get ahead in games. Try to get the first goal and see where that takes us.”
Bohs are back in action tonight when they host Cork City in the quarter-finals of the EA Sports Cup. “There is no let u p . We just have to dust ourselves down,” added Long. “We’ll see how we go in terms of bodies as we have a number of injuries.”