EVERTON are looking to make the best out of a bad situation – but their trip to Ireland will be far from easy.

That is the opinion of Sligo Rovers’ Liverpudlian manager Paul Cook who knows all about the opposition who await the Goodison Park side this evening.

David Moyes takes his troops to Dalymount Park tonight for a friendly match with Bohemians, swiftly arranged in the aftermath of their Premier League curtain raiser at Tottenham Hotspur being postponed due to last week’s disorder in the capital.

Sligo battled it out with the Dublin-based Bohemians on Saturday night in an FAI League of Ireland fixture in front of nearly 2,000 fans.

Cook’s team, looking to return to top spot with victory, had taken an early lead at their Showgrounds home over the weekend only to have that advantage overturned by two goals in the final 15 minutes.

Controversy reigned and Cook, a former Southport manager, hotly disputes the penalty decision which lead to Bohs’ equaliser in the 75th minute as Killan Brennan converted from the spot.

Former Everton Academy prospect Aidan Downes then piled on the misery by hitting the winning goal nine minutes from time.

Downes is one of two standout players Moyes’ men should be wary of this evening, says Cook, who has also pinpointed Christopher Fagan as one who could trouble Everton.

And as Cook explains, despite Bohemians running into off-field difficulties in recent times, they remain one of strongest outfits in country.

Ranked as the third most successful club in League of Ireland history, Bohemians have won the championship title 11 times and featured in the European Cup on six occasions.

Pat Fenlon’s side competed in the second qualifying round of the Champions League last season and despite a first leg victory over Welsh outfit The New Saints, Bohemians lost the return fixture 4-0 in a performance the manager is reported to have described as “disgraceful”.

“For the last three or four years more of less, Bohemians have been champions and dominated in Ireland,” said Cook.

“However over the last six or seven months they have had a lot of financial problems and so have had to reduce the size of their squad.

“But they still have some good players and have assembled a strong squad with a lot of experience in this league.

“There are a couple of lads who stand out though, Christy Fagan and Aidan Downes, who used to be with Everton. He’s had a lot of injuries but the lad played very well against us on Saturday night.

“That was our first defeat in 13 games and we would’ve gone top if we had won.

“The referee gave the penalty but not one person in the ground is appealing for it.

“But we’re still only three points off the top with 10 games to go so we’re far from out of it. Unfortunately you can’t win every game.”