FOOTBALL: ROUND-UP: Hawkins Bohs the problem

EX-REPUBLIC of Ireland Under-21 defender Colin Hawkins has worked out why Bohemians have had an indifferent start to the season - they are still coming to terms with being champions.

He said: "Everybody ups their game against us because of who we are.

"We're the scalp everyone wants. While it's a compliment, of course, we have not been having the best of times lately.

"You're there to be knocked down - it's only natural. That's what we have to expect every week but we should be strong enough to rise above it.

"Still when all is said and done we're only three points behind the leaders after eight games and that's not too bad. Hopefully this can be the turning point to our season."

Fergal Harkin's 63rd minute tap-in gave Bohs a 1-0 victory over Drogheda at Dalymount Park to move the Gypsies into a share of third with arch rivals Shamrock Rovers, who had James Keddy bag a hat- trick in their 5-1 win over Derry in Inchicore.

But Bohs still made hard work of it. Drogheda defender Danny O'Connor smacked a shot off the upright on full-time and from the follow-up substitute Andy Myler somehow blazed over. Drogheda also hit the post twice as Bohs rode their luck.

But Hawkins claims there is very little to choose between any of the teams.

He added: "It's got to the point any win you can pick up, even a 1- 0 at home, is brilliant. In fact we'd take a 1-0 every time we went out if we could."

This was also only the second time this season Bohs had prevented the opposition from scoring.

Drogheda boss said: "Everyone has given us a pat on the back for how well we played but in the end it's a loss. We were desperately unlucky not to score."

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