FAI Cup preview: Bohs and Drogheda aim to avoid upsets

Three Sports Direct FAI Cup quarter-finals are scheduled for this evening with at least one First Division side guaranteed to progress and two more hoping to cause an upset.

With the league's top two sides meeting at the Ryan McBride Brandywell Stadium on Saturday, those with more outside hopes of winning the competition will eye their chance to book a semi-final spot.

The major exception is Bohemians who are beginning to find some momentum and face UCD knowing they can completely turn around their season.

European qualification through the league looks to be out of the reach of the Gypsies due to a mediocre year.

The FAI Cup has been won by a top three side on each occasion for more than the last decade but that may not happen this year due to the fact only one of those teams will be in the semi-finals when one of Derry City and Shelbourne are eliminated on Saturday.

Bohs now hold a live hope of reaching the Conference League should they can win the Cup and may not face another Premier Division side before the final if things fall their way, if even that.

Alan Reynolds was under pressure, but picking up a win over Shamrock Rovers and two points against Shels has steadied the ship.

"We are pleased with our performances over the last number of weeks but there is nobody in there patting ourselves on the back," he said.

"We still have a lot of work to do, and we were disappointed we couldn't turn those draws against Shelbourne into wins because I think we are top in both."

College were superb in dumping Sligo Rovers out in the previous round.

Mikey Raggett impresses up front, while defender Eanna Clancy continues to progress.

They were unlucky to go down to 1-0 defeat to champions Cork City last week.

The play-offs are more than a