Sligo Rovers' struggles continued at the Showgrounds as a late Lys Mousset winner fired Bohemians to within two points of the SSE Airtricity Premier Division summit.
To make matters worse for the Bit O'Red, Owen Elding missed an early penalty for Rovers who have now lost ten of their opening fifteen games.
Sligo came into this game on the back of just one win and two draws in their last five, while the visiting Gypsies were very much in the in-form side with four victories in their last five outings.
Rovers boss John Russell made two changes from their defeat to Shamrock Rovers. Jake Doyle-Hayes returned from suspension while Harvey Lintott made his first start in nine games. Midfielder Conor Malley made the bench having been dropped from the squad for the trip to Tallaght.
A resurgent Bohs named both Rob Cornwall and Colm Whelan in their starting team, their only changes from the late win in Galway five evenings previous.
Eleven years to the day since their last trophy win, in the form of the final edition of the Setanta Sports Cup, Rovers squandered a glorious early opportunity to take the lead in this one when Elding fluffed an early penalty after Cornwall had barged Cian Kavanagh in the back. Elding's unsuccessful spot-kick struck Kacper Choraka's crossbar and was Rovers' third missed penalty of the year.
The Dubliners finished the opening half on the front foot, but Sligo did fashion another good chance on 26 minutes when Kavanagh stabbed Elding's cross narrowly past the post.
Aware a win would move them within striking distance of the top two, the Phibsboro outfit asserted themselves as the half wore on.
Reece Hutchinson swept a Dalye Rooney effort off his own line after goalkeeper Sam Sargeant had gone travelling. While the net minder diverted Dawson Devoy's powerful volley over his goal on the next attack.
The Dalymount outfit continued to press. Jordan Flores' drive took a lick off Elding's heel as it fizzed wide, followed by another decent save from Sargeant who pushed a Cornwall header away from danger.
Sargeant was involved in proceedings again on the hour when he produced a magnificent double save. Cornwall's initial blast was parried by the former Waterford man and Sargeant repeated the trick when his timely reaction kept out Rooney's follow up.
Devoy then flashed two efforts toward goal as Alan Reynolds' men looked the more likely to register a score.
That goal arrived two minutes from time when substitute Mousset arrived in time to volley past Sargeant for another win on the road for the visitors.
Sligo Rovers: Sam Sargeant; Harvey Lintott (Wilson Waweru 84), Gareth McElroy, Conor Reynolds (Kyle McDonagh 78), Reece Hutchinson; Jake Doyle-Hayes, Ronan Manning (Jad Hakiki 68); Will Fitzgerald, Francely Lomboto (Stephen Mallon 68); Owen Elding, Cian Kavanagh (Conor Malley 78).
Bohemians: Kacper Chorazka; Niall Morahan, Rob Cornwall, Sean Grehan, Ross Tierney; Adam McDonnell (Keith Buckley 78), Dawson Devoy; Ross Tierney (Archie Meekison 83), James Clarke (Lys Mousset 78), Dayle Rooney; Colm Whelan (Rhys Brennan 59).
Referee: Mark Houlihan.
