Jack Byrne returns after eight-month absence as Bohs and Rovers share spoils in Dublin Derby

In a tense game played in front of a full house of 4,429, it was a case of as you were in the league table with the two goals scored in the space of 20 minutes in the first half, with both arriving from errors.

A poor clearance by Rovers keeper Leon Pohls led to the Bohs opener and a lapse of concentration in the danger zone from Bohs defender Paddy Kirk gifted gift the Hoops an equaliser.

Before the game Rovers boss Stephen Bradley noted that Bohs of late had been "happy having less of the possession and winning games", and it was a similar script at Dalymount as, even though they took the lead, Bohs failed to build on the advantage, barely threatened at all in a second half where Rovers had chances to win the game, but not enough clear-cut ones.

Rovers came into the game with a lengthy injury list, though there was some progress on that front as the trio of Markus Poom, Jack Byrne and Neil Farrugia were fit enough to take a seat on the bench. And the sight of Farrugia coming into the fray with 12 minutes left, his first outing since a potentially season-ending shoulder injury in February and a first appearance of the season for Byrne will encourage Rovers for the tests to come.

It was Bohs, though, who suffered an early injury blow as Brian McManus was forced off after just eight minutes, James Clarke introduced for him as McManus was later seen leaving the ground on crutches.

As expected, the away side had more of the ball as the Bohs game-plan seemed to be to allow them have that possession and soak it up, though it was Rovers who came close to scoring first in the seventh minute. Darragh Nugent's ball was perfectly weighted for Aaron Greene and he unleashed a shot which called for a save from Kacper Chorazka.

The game-plan seemed to work out for Bohs when they took the lead on 25 minutes. It was a self-inflicted wound for the champions as Leon Pohls' clearance went straight onto the head of Jordan Flores, he pumped the ball forward to James Akintunde and his flick was just right for Piszczek to pounce and drill home into the roof of the net. It should have been 2-0 three minutes later as Pisczcek's intelligence created a chance for Dayle Rooney but with the Rovers defence static, he fired wide.

Rovers had more squad issues on 35 minutes when the influential Dylan Watts, who has missed just one game all season, came off worst in a clash with James Clarke and had to leave the field. Rovers were level on 42 minutes, Nugent the creator of the move as he played in Greene, his cross-field ball was aimed for Darragh Burns but while defender Paddy Kirk got there, he only managed to lay the ball on for Kenny who made no mistake.

The message from the Rovers camp at half time would have been to keep calm and carry on as their superior possession was bound to produce something as Bohs lacked a spark and struggled to create opportunities to test Pohls. On 65 minutes Trevor Clarke latched onto a pass from Darragh Nugent and advanced on goal but his shot was wide and three minutes later Clarke was there again with a chance but this one was saved by Chorazka.

Subs Byrne and Farrugia were influential in the closing stages, especially in the six minutes of added time while in the last act, Declan McDaid caused panic at the Shed End with a dangerous cross but the goalscoring end of things was concluded as the two sides regroup for battle on Monday, Rovers at home to Waterford with Bohs hosting Galway United.

BOHS - Chorazka; Matheson, Mills, Keita, Kirk; Flores (McDaid 76), McDonnell; Rooney, B McManus (Clarke 8), Akintunde (J McManus 76); Piszczek (Connolly 65).

ROVERS - Pohls; Honohan, Lopes, Cleary; Nugent, Watts (Poom 36), Noonan (Byrne 78), Clarke (Farrugia 78); Greene, Burns (Kavanagh 85); Kenny.

REF - D MacGraith