City narrowly defeated in Dalymount

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City once again took a trip to the capital as they took on Bohemians in Phibsborough. Tim Clancy’s side were looking to bounce back from a heavy loss against Shamrock Rovers in Tallaght on Monday. 

He made just one change from the team that took the field in Tallaght, with Alex Nolan returning to the fray in replacement for Josh Fitzpatrick.

As for Alan Reynolds’ side, they made three changes to their side that lost narrowly to north Dublin rivals Shelbourne. Niall Morahan, James McManus and Dayle Rooney all made way, being replaced by Connor Parsons, Adam McDonnell and Archie Meekison.

City started brightly in this one, and had the first chance of the game with twenty minutes gone. Alex Nolan held up the ball in the box before laying it to Evan McLaughlin on the edge of the D. McLaughlin twisted and turned before letting off a low driven effort which forced Chorazka to get down low to parry the ball away.

CIty seemed to have caught Bohs by surprise with their start, and went so close to taking the lead two minutes later. A long ball from Tein Troost went over the top of the Bohs defence and was latched onto by Cathal O’Sullivan. Cathal tried to flick it past the oncoming Chorazka, but the Bohs keeper got a touch on it to send it out for a corner.

City were the better side and had another chance with seven minutes to go in the half. Milan Mbeng received the ball down the right hand side. Mbeng did a brilliant roulette between two Bohs players before slipping it down the line to Kitt Nelson. Nelson whipped it across the box to Alex Nolan but his flick towards goal went the wrong side of the front post.

There was more action in added time in the first half, which went the home side’s way. Bohs swung in a corner that was met by the oncoming Sean Grehan, who powered a header towards goal, but Tein Troost made a great reaction save to keep the game level.

City put some late pressure on the Bohs’ defence, but ultimately both sides went into half time at a deadlock. City had been the better side, but lacked a cutting edge to punish Bohs.

City sat back in the second half looking to settle for a point, which allowed Bohs to have the majority of the ball and Bohs put a lot of pressure on the City defence, but they didn't have their first real chance of the half until the eighty third minute where they thought they'd taken the lead. A corner led to a goal line scramble in the City six yard box. The ball rolled towards the byline and was cut back before being tucked away by Rhys Brennan, but the ref judged that the ball had gone over the line and out for a corner.

Despite this, Bohs took the lead just a minute later. A corner was headed away by the City defence before landing to James McManus at the edge of the box who struck it low on the volley and despite Tein Troost getting a hand to it, it nestled in the bottom corner to give the hosts the lead.

City were forced to abandon their defensive approach in search for an equaliser, and went so close in the dying embers of added time. Benny Couto fired a free kick towards the back post where it was met by Milan Mbeng who dove for the ball but directed his header straight at Chorazka and squandered a glorious chance for City.

That would be that as City somewhat unfortunately came away from the game empty handed after a stellar first half. Whether it was the right choice to try and settle for a draw in the second half is up for debate, but it seemed to me that the biggest issue with us was the lack of a player that could finish the chances we were creating. It was a much improved effort and performance from Monday night and I feel we were quite unlucky not to come out with at least a point, but ultimately our lack of cutting edge without Seani and Keats will cost us a lot of points.

As for Bohs, they were quite poor in the first half and they didn't really take much advantage of the fact we let them have the ball for the vast majority of the second half, but they created a chance that got them the winner and that's all that’ll matter to them.

My man of the match goes to Milan Mbeng. Apart from the chance at the end, Milan Mbeng didn't really step a toe out of line all game and caused Bohs serious problems down the right hand side. He was at right wing back as opposed to his usual right sided centre half which allowed him to get forward more and gave Bohs some serious problems at times.

City will have to pick themselves up once again as they face two huge games in the next week, with the first of which coming at home to Waterford on Easter Monday. As for Bohs, they travel to Tallaght to take on their fierce rivals Shamrock Rovers.