League of Ireland: Derry slump continues in Bohemians defeat

Keith Buckley's goal put Bohemians 2-0 up at Dalymount Park

Derry City's relegation concerns in the League of Ireland continue to mount after they were comprehensively beaten 4-2 by Bohemians on Friday evening.

The Candystripes, now without a win in 12 games, conceded four goals in nine minutes in the first half.

Derek Prendergast put Bohs ahead on 11 minutes with Keith Buckley (12), Ismahil Akinade (17) and Ronan Creevy (20) quickly adding further goals.

Mark Timlin struck Derry's two goals in the second half.

Derry appeared to make a composed start as they passed the ball well early on.

However, Peter Hutton's side totally imploded following Prendergast's opening goal on 11 minutes after the Derry defence had failed to clear a Karl Moore corner.

Within a minute, Bohs had doubled their advantage with Akinade setting up Buckley to score with Derry defenders haplessly appealing for an offside flag that was never going to come.

The misery continued for Derry five minutes later with Akinade blasting home after Derry had failed to deal with a long punt forward from Paddy Kavanagh.

And Derry's woe continued on 20 minutes as Creevy poked to the net from close range after more appalling defending from the visitors.

Cillian Morrison attempted to rally the Candystripes by firing a couple of efforts which struck the woodwork before half-time but the Derry players and management must have been shell-shocked as they headed into the dressing-rooms at the interval.

No doubt with a few home truths ringing in their ears, Derry's performance did improve in the second half although there may have been an element of Bohemians, rightly, assuming that that the contest was effectively already over.

Timlin did pull a goal back with a superb long-range effort on 48 minutes and he repeated the dose with another superb shot on 76 minutes.

For a brief moment, the most unlikely to comebacks followed a possibility but despite more Derry pressure, Bohs held on to complete a 4-2 victory.

Sligo's 3-0 home defeat by St Patrick's Athletic means that Derry remain just above the relegation play-off position on goal difference but the pressure continues to mount on manager Hutton.