NOT A night for Bohemians to remember.

A goal down after eight minutes followed by the loss of their central-defender, James Coll, seven minutes later and an own goal early in the second-half settled the issue.

And it was all witnessed by the new national team manager, Mick McCarthy.

Sligo went to Dalymount Park knowing that a defeat would surely end any lingering hopes of a title challenge. At least Bohemians can salvage something from the weekend with a result in Derry tomorrow, though this result must go down as a mortal blow to their aspirations.

Sligo's start reflected what was at stake for them, scoring with their first direct attack after eight minutes.

Ian Gilzean's delightful flick found John Kenny, back in his familiar right wing role after a month-long lay off, and he swivelled to cross with his left foot for Padraig Moran to ghost in at the back post to head home.

It got worse for Bohemians soon afterwards as Coll dislocated his left upper-arm when falling awkwardly after a clearing header.

But Sligo forced a way through again within nine minutes of the start of the second-half, a goal that Bohemians will want erased from memory. Moran's free was cleared, but only to David Reid, whose cross back into the box was missed by Henderson with Brian Mooney deflecting the ball into his own net.

Bohemians got back into the game, but needed a stroke of luck to do so, when pulling a goal back on 64 minutes. Tony O'Connor's long ball over the top caught Sligo square as Derek Swan ran clear. But Swan seemed to control the ball with his right forearm before steering it past Mark McLean. A curious reprieve for Swan, guilty of shooting wide when clean through minutes into the half.

Bohemians then laid siege to the Sligo goal for much of the remainder of the game.