SPAIN HAS EL Clásico, Italy has The Eternal Derby and Scotland has the Old Firm derby. What Ireland lacks in the attendance figures of those derbies it makes up for in the sheer intensity of its number one football derby- Bohemians and Shamrock Rovers.

Must-win fixtures are often spoken about by Pat Fenlon, but tonight truly is a must-win match, for a number of reasons.

Firstly, there is the most pressing matter of the league table. Bohs are five points behind Rovers with four matches remaining in the season. With another tough derby against St. Pats set for Saturday, a win tonight is essential for Bohs to catch Rovers.

Fenlon has said that he “can’t wait for the match” and was under no illusion about what his side need to do: “we need to win, simple as that”.

On form, it’s hard to say who holds the upper hand. Rovers had been in brilliant form before round 30, and since then they have only won one out of three matches. Bohs haven’t lost in eight matches, but have drawn their last two.

The Gypsies are missing a number of key players through injury. Gareth McGlynn and Jason McGuiness join Owen Heary, Anto Murphy and Stephen Gray on the injury list. Mark Quigley and Chris O’Connor are both suspended.

Injuries have also hit Rovers, with the Hoops missing Dan Murray, Pat Sullivan and Sean O’Connor. Robert Bayly and Danny Murphy are both suspended while Thomas Stewart is  doubt.

Also high on the list of reasons Bohs would love to win tonight is their recent record against their bitter cross-city rivals. The northsiders haven’t beaten Rovers since March of last year.

Rovers manager Michael O’Neill spoke about the importance of the match.

“Bohs have to win this game. But we will be going there to win too with the aim of putting ourselves in a great position to go on and win the league. We can do that tomorrow night.”