An unpredictable and tight race set to unfold

Such is the topsy turvy nature of this League of Ireland season that Bohemians manager Alan Reynolds went from being a man almost certain to lose his job last Monday lunchtime to suddenly being in charge of a side just two points off the top of the table by Friday night.

It’s a reflection of the competitive nature of the fare so far this season in the Premier Division that just just three points separate the league leaders, Drogheda United, and Derry City in seventh.

Unfortunately, from a local point of view, that means Sligo Rovers are beginning to look a little detached at the foot of the standings.

A return of eight points from the first 12 matches leaves Rovers in a tight spot, even at this early stage, and Saturday night’s draw with fellow strugglers Cork City did little to enhance the situation.

John Russell has done an admirable job as manager since his elevation to the top gig, but there does come a time when even miracle workers will struggle to cope with the reality of certain situations.

That reality, sadly, is a financial one from a Rovers point of view and it is becoming more and more difficult to compete with clubs in the league capable of paying significantly higher wages to players. Geographical factors are also an issue, but financial clout for a supporter-owned entity like Sligo Rovers is always a constant battle. With inflated wage demands, that reality is hitting even harder now.

All of that said, from what we’ve seen on the pitch thus far, there are signs of optimism for Rovers.

Their return of 17 goals scored is better than six sides in the division, so scoring is not an issue; but conceding goals is. 25 goals conceded in 12 games tells its own story.

For Russell, there has been evident frustration in the nature of those goals conceded, with quite a few down to errors one cannot plan for. Rovers look to be well set-up tactically, but their defensive issues have to be solved - quickly - before the situation becomes too big a rescue act.

Of consolation, too, will be that no one is pulling up any trees, even at the other end of the standings.

Every team has shown an ability to beat the others, so it’s highly unpredictable.

Bohs are the best example of that. After a pretty poor start to the season, the complexion of their entire campaign has changed utterly with two standout victories in the space of four days over Shamrock Rovers and St Pat’s. In both cases, they scored the winning goal deep into stoppage time, so it’ll be interesting to see if they can maintain their momentum in a winnable fixture against Waterford this week.

Indeed, consistency is worth its weight in gold in a league where even the joint leaders, Drogheda and Galway United, have already lost two games each.

It's still early days, but no one has shown that ability to bring a real consistent run of results to the party just yet.

St Pat's were this writer's tip to take control of things early this season, but Stephen Kenny's charges haven't quite hit their stride as yet.

Theirs is a squad littered with quality - and Kenny is a manager with a proven record in the league - but the Inchicore club are now without a win in three matches.

Surely Pat's have too much firepower to hit a slump at this stage, but their approach against Bohemians was a curious one.

They did go a goal up at Dalymount but subsequently sat off in a bid to retain their advantage. Instead of achieving that, they did the opposite; Bohs started to gain a foothold with more possession and they eventually crashed in an equaliser before netting the winner at the death.

Shelbourne, the defending champions, will be pleased with their lot. Damien Duff's side are right in the mix and, similar to last season, remain a very difficult proposition for all sides. Mipo Odubeko is a decent addition in the final third and Shels have been scoring goals, with their last three matches ending in 2-all draws.

Shamrock Rovers have been going along quietly but efficiently, though last week they collected just a point from a pair of Dublin derbies. Yet, Stephen Bradley's side have the greatest amount of muscle to flex when it comes to squad depth and experience, which could be significant as the season progresses.

What also may play a part, though, is both mental and physical fatigue. Don't forget, the Hoops barely had any off time over the winter due to their extended involvement in the Conference League.

All of that said, isn't it brilliant from a neutral view point to see Drogheda United and Galway United at the head of the table right now?

Both clubs have had their difficulties over the last decade but they are now benefiting from two things: increased investment and solid management.

Kevin Doherty has been the most impressive manager in the league in recent seasons.

Stephen Bradley has done a great job at Shamrock Rovers, in terms of league successes and European progress, but, pound for pound, Doherty has squeezed every last ounce out of the resources available to him at Drogheda. To win the FAI Cup last season was impressive, but they've backed that up by putting together a great run of form so far this season.

However, they slumped to a 2-1 defeat to Galway United on the banks of the Corrib last Friday.

Galway is a place with multiple sporting and cultural interests, which means it's hard for the football club to carve out a place for it in such a packed landscape.

But, with John Caulfield and Ollie Horgan at the helm, they've become a solid Premier Division outfit and a European place is certainly achievable.

Much is made of the Dublin influence on the league but, right now, the clubs from outside the pale are doing their bit.