JOHN MOUNTNEY was never in any doubt that Bohemians would turn the corner — as he was sure they were always on the right road.
Bohs face Sligo Rovers at Dalymount Park this evening buoyant from Monday’s 2-0 Dublin derby win over Shamrock Rovers that saw them climb to second in the table.
It has been a remarkable turnaround for the Gypsies since the Bit O’Red last visited Dublin 7 on April 4. At the time, it was a clash of the bottom two after Bohs lost five of their first seven matches.
And 14 games on, Alan Reynolds’ team have still not drawn a game.
Ten wins have seen them rocket up the table to where they are now seen as title contenders.
But Mountney — a winter signing from Dundalk where he won every honour in Irish football — was always confident this run would come.
He said: “I didn’t think the position reflected where we were.
“We had a strong squad but hadn’t found a settled XI.
“As the season’s gone on, we’ve picked up results. There’s still not been a settled XI as such, which just shows the quality in the squad.
“And of course you have to go and win a few games with a new team and lads came together to really build belief and momentum.”
But Mountney knows a first win of the year at Dalymount Park — against Sligo Rovers last April — was also key as Reynolds’ troops have won five of six at home since then.
He added: “It was coming. It was just about getting a win.
“It was just a case of once we got our win, this place is a fortress. You can hear it when things are going well, so that’s a big factor as well, is getting the crowd behind.
“I just think it’s down to belief.
“You get really down when you lose and things aren’t going your way.
“And sometimes when it goes your way, then it’s about not getting too high.
“We’ve found that sort of base now and have picked up results.
“It’s a very grounded squad and we know that we have to work hard every week.”
Despite their lofty position, the veteran Bohs defender, 32, insists that his side are not title challengers just yet.
But that is only because he refuses to look at the table at this stage of the season.
Mountney explained: “It’s too early to say it like that. Even if Shamrock Rovers had beaten us, I think it’s too early to say it.
“The gap would have been bigger.
“The games in hand are obviously great but you have to go and win them as well. Every game is massive for us.
“It’s an up-and-coming team and there’s a lot of good young talent here.
“We have to take it game by game but there’s definitely a belief and there’s definitely real quality for us to achieve something this year.
“It’ll be the same against Sligo.
“We have to put in the same performance or they could have the quality to turn us over.”
