‘It became a bit of a basketball game which they like’ – Rovers boss Stephen Bradley frustrated by Bohemians draw

Bohs went in front at home to the champions thanks to a superb strike from Filip Piszczek, his first goal for the club, but they squandered a chance to double that lead, which lasted only 20 minutes as Johnny Kenny equalised just before half time.

Rovers dominated the second half but could not manage another goal and had to settle for a draw which was not what Bradley wanted.

“We're frustrated we didn't win the game,” he said. “I thought the first-half, we had so many opportunities to play but we didn't take it.

“There was nothing in the first-half, no team had control of the game but the second-half we completely dominated. I don't think they entered our box until the last few seconds with the corners. We completely dominated and should have won the game.

“Second half we were excellent, really good. To come over here and reduce them to nothing and dominate the game, second half was really pleasing. First half, the spaces were there but we just didn't see them and it became a bit of a basketball game which they like.

“But second half we completely took that away from them and controlled the game. I really liked the second half,” he added.

There were positives from the night as Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia came off the bench, a first outing since a shoulder injury on the opening day of the season for Farrugia and a first league game since September for Byrne.

“Yeah it was good to get them on, especially Jack. He's been out a long time and then nearly came back and had a little setback, so it's great to have him on the pitch. He felt good and had no issues afterwards. It's the same with Neil,” he said.

“Neil has been really quick (getting back) and Markus Poom felt good as well. We didn't rush him for Monday, so it was good to get him back. We are getting there and next week we should have a few more back,” he said of their lengthy injury list.

“We will try and build Jack up over the next few weeks and thankfully we have a lot of games which allows us to do that. Hopefully on Monday we can get more minutes into him and keep building him and as soon as he's ready, he plays.”

The Hoops now focus on Monday’s game at home to a Waterford side boosted by Friday’s win away to Sligo Rovers.

“Keith (Long) is a good manager and we've seen that from all the years we've played against them (Bohs) here and he has these (Waterford) as a good team,” Bradley said.

“We had a tough game down there and Waterford will be a tough game. We know that and won't be thinking anything different. We will move on quickly from this tonight and have full focus on Waterford and give them the respect they have earned and deserve.”