Managerless Bohs claim Dublin derby bragging rights

Bohemians began life without Keith Long by recalling the many great nights they enjoyed under him, finding their form again to prevail in an error-ridden derby against fierce rivals Shamrock Rovers.

Liam Burt's screamer with 18 minutes to go, followed Dylan Watts seeing red against his old club, as a strangely lethargic Rovers succumbed to a side whose confidence had seemed on the floor.

It gives Derry City a glimmer of belief they might yet catch Rovers – there are only four points between them – and there will be some concern for Stephen Bradley about this Rovers effort, in light of a massive few months ahead for the dominant force in the domestic game.

For Bohs, who are pretty much playing out the season in the league, this will do their self-belief no harm whatever, their eyes very much on an FAI Cup quarter-final against Shelbourne that is certain to be raucous.

This was and will be a difficult break-up for Bohs and Long, who was the second-longest serving manager in the league and really only had one bad season – this one – and even that has hardly been a shocking one.

Bohs' match programme spoke of "many great memories" under Long, acknowledging that "maybe it was time" for the Dubliner to depart – but a photo of him as manager was left in on page 12. It will be a shock to Long when somebody else appears as Bohs manager; for now, Derek Pender and Trevor Croly have shoulders to the wheel.

The opening ten minutes were waste-ridden and of a poor standard. Then Aaron Greene headed straight at Jon McCracken before Ali Coote did the same to Mannus, neither move laden with virtuosity.

Finally, just after the half-hour mark, some neat interplay from the Hoops, mainly involving Watts, whose effort was badly off target. A