The Bit O’ Red faced Bohemians at Dalymount Park on Friday night in the SSE Airtricity Men’s Premier Division.

Manager John Russell was forced into two changes to his starting eleven with central defenders John Mahon and Nando Pijnaker missing out through suspension and injury respectively.

Eanna Clancy returned to the side and Johan Brannefalk started at right back, with Niall Morahan starting an centre back.

Clancy’s night got off to the worst possible start as he went down on just five minutes and signalled to the Rovers’ bench that he had to come off with a hamstring injury. Daniel Lafferty came on in his place.

It didn’t get any better for Rovers as Greg Bolger blocked a Krystian Nowak shot on 25 minutes and immediately fell to the ground in pain. After receiving treatment, Bolger tried to play on but he couldn’t and was replaced by Lukas Browning.

Minutes later, the hosts were in front. Rovers had a free-kick on the left which was headed away by the home defence. James Akintunde picked up possession in midfield and found Kris Twardek on the left. Twardek played the ball into the area and found midfielder James Clarke who took a touch and squeezed it past Luke McNicholas from a tight angle.

There were little or no chances for either side in the first half and the goal was a sucker punch for Rovers and John Russell.

The Bit O’ Red came out for the second half looking to get back into the game.

The first chance came as Johan Brannefalk latched onto David Cawley’s quick free kick down the right and his low cross was cleared off the line by Nowak and out for a corner. Lukas Browning had a strike from the edge of the area moments later but his shot was blocked behind for another corner.

On 68 minutes, the hosts got their second. Twardek ran down the left and played the ball to Ali Coote at the back post. Coote found substitute Declan McDaid and he slotted it home on the turn to double their lead.

Again, Rovers tried as they could to get back into the game and had our two best chances as Max Mata and Cawley both went close with headers from around 8 yards.

It wasn’t to be for Rovers as injuries took their tole yet again but it’s a quick turnaround now as Shamrock Rovers visit The Showgrounds on Monday at 6pm.