ALAN Reynolds was thrilled with Bohemians best 45 minutes in years – but he laughed off the idea Bohs are now Shamrock Rovers’ kryptonite.
The Gypsies beat the Hoops 2-0 at Dalymount Park last night as they won their third meeting against their Dublin rivals of the season.
It also ensured they moved up to second place nine points behind in-form Rovers, but Rennie’s men have two games in hand and play Rovers again in September.
The Hoops have lost just four games all year, but Reynolds laughed off the idea that his masterminding of three of them for Bohemians means he has a hex over them.
He shrugged: “I don’t know what it is but Waterford have it over me.”
But he acknowledged that his side’s performance – particularly in the first half – was outstanding.
He said: “I was just talking to (coach) Derek Pender. He said he hasn’t seen such a good 45 and he’s here such a long time.
“I thought it was the best I’ve seen us without the ball but I’m not surprised. With the ball, there were transitions when they lost the ball from us winning it back, press and try to score.
“It’s about consistency because it’s hard to play like that in every game to be fair. Not many teams play like Shamrock Rovers either so you must have a gameplan for them.
“All credit to us tonight. I know Rovers are outstanding but tonight we looked a proper team.”
Hoops’ boss Stephen Bradley agreed that Bohemians were good, but felt his side did not meet their own standards.
Bradley said: “First half we were miles off the game, a million miles off what’s required in any game but especially in this type of game.
“So as a result they were two up and could have been three or four to be honest, we were that far off the level but that’s football, that’s Dublin derbies
“You’ve got to credit Bohs, they were good but we were a million miles off it. You don’t win games of football in this league if you’re that far off the levels.”
But while the Bohemians victory puts them close to the top, Reynolds said it is too early to talk about his side – who started the year with five defeats in their opening seven – as challengers.
He added: “To be honest, I haven’t thought about it. I know you want to hear ‘we’re challenges,’ but what are we nine points behind them?
“Give me another couple of months, and I’ll tell you. We go on Friday and we lose to Waterford, so we can’t afford to drop too many points.”
BACK TO WINNING WAYS
But the turnaround since then – Bohs have won ten of 14 games since then – has seen a mood change at Dalymount Park from fans calling for Reynolds’ head to cheering him on.
Reynolds always had the support of the players with Ross Tierney celebrating a goal against Sligo Rovers that kick-started their run by running to his manager.
But the fan’ backing is more recent and Tierney was the one pushing his manager forward to get the acclaim from the Jodi Stand last night.
Reynolds said: “I think that’s a running joke, you see, because of what was going on here before.
“But hey, look, we enjoyed the moment. And if you can’t enjoy news like this, what’s the point?
“So I know our relationship (with the fans) has been fractured at times, but look, we’re in a good place now.
“I think the dressing room is really good, and I don’t have any doubts that the dressing room’s been behind me, even last year, when the results weren’t going well.
“We’re a good, solid group and staff are really tight, so I don’t doubt that. We’re tight with all players. We care about them, but they see what we’re trying to do.
“I’m sure if Ross Tierney thought I wasn’t good at my job or I wasn’t giving them proper information, he wouldn’t be long telling me that either.”
