Having had that winning feeling for such a long spell, Shamrock Rovers insist that losing will not become a habit, with manager Stephen Bradley promising an instant response to the end of their long unbeaten run.

Friday’s 2-1 loss away to Dundalk ended a 33-game run of league games without a loss for Rovers, and with St Patrick’s Athletic’s weekend win over Bohemians, the lead at the top by Rovers, which a month ago looked unassailable, is now down to three points.

The Hoops now have to take their injury-hit squad into battle tonight against a Sligo Rovers side on a run of three successive wins and clean sheets (including a 3-0 walkover against Waterford).  

“I know this group will respond. I know what they are, I know their characters,” says Bradley (below), enthused by his side’s display in Dundalk.

“If we got completely outplayed and backs against the wall, well then it’s a different mentality but it couldn’t have been further from that. We’re disappointed obviously because the run was incredible and the players deserve tremendous credit.

“But we played really well and should have won the Dundalk game. The players will be disappointed but we’ll forget about that, we move on quickly after wins and we’ll do that after defeats and get ready for what will be a tough game.”

Injury to key players like Ronan Finn and Chris McCann forced Rovers to do battle with a bench that was light on experience though Bradley hopes to have a stronger squad for Sligo’s visit. 

Daniel Kelly, who hails from the Rovers heartland of Ringsend, was one of Dundalk’s key players in that win and ahead of their trip to play Bohemians, he’s challenged the FAI Cup holders to build on that.  “To a man we were unbelievable and fully deserved the three points. Obviously Rovers are the best team in the league at the moment, the table doesn’t lie, we just need to start bridging the gap on the teams above us,” Kelly said, wary of his former club, Bohs.

“When they came here against us they played really well and probably deserved to beat us but they are a really good side with a lot of talent, a lot of young lads who are really good. It’s never easy playing against Bohs as I know from playing with them.”

A missed penalty by Georgie Kelly was costly for Bohs away to St Pat’s but midfielder Ross Tierney retains faith in the striker.

“Georgie is a bit low on confidence but the goals will come, I love playing with him as he’s easy to play with, he’s a bit low but we will pick him up when his goals come,” Tierney said.