Galway United will bounce into their game with Bohs tomorrow night after their performance of the season last Saturday in The Showgrounds.
United humbled their Connacht rivals in a performance that underscored all the positives of the season to date. Subs Kris Twardek and Francely Lomboto laid one on for each other to wrap the game up in the final quarter.
It should have been sealed already. Sligo only stayed in the game thanks to a penalty award that felt soft. In true League of Ireland fashion, worse was seen in Waterford on Monday when they were gifted a late penalty to help them to a first win.
United though were undeterred and there were scenes of great joy and passion at full-time. They will fancy themselves against a resurgent Bohs. The visitors have turned around a dismal run of nine games without a win and come to Galway on the back of two wins against Dundalk and Drogheda.
Alan Reynolds can never rest on his laurels in this job and will still feel a pressure to pick up a positive result in the west. That is despite his side sitting third, just six behind the leaders.
Patrick Hickey will be one of the stories on his return to Eamonn Deacy Park. He provided his second winner of the season last time out and is an ever-present at the back for Bohs. Dawson Devoy, after his first international call-up is undoubtedly another to watch and is as good as anyone in the league.
A win could push United up to fifth. Only five points separate fifth from ninth and United should be keen to keep ahead of Drogheda and Sligo in particular. Waterford too are now suddenly only six adrift of Sligo.
Goals look to be on the cards tomorrow night. No one has scored more than United in their last eight games. Bohs have scored in each of their last eight games also.
It is unclear what options John Caulfield will favour, but it seems certain he has some in every line. Gianfranco Facchineri was an unused sub on Saturday. Wasiri Williams did his cause no harm with a goal and some commanding interventions. Conor McCormack thrived again in midfield. James Morahan made his full debut off the bench.
The strikers that replaced Walsh and Pierrot, who had a fine game up front, both added goals and assists.
It all augurs well for United, who beat Bohs at home late last season in an important encounter. A similar outcome would provide significant encouragement to a team that can build and believe.
