DESPITE BECOMING THE first Irish club to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League in 2011, Shamrock Rovers have since struggled to match the heights achieved under Michael O’Neill six years ago.
Rovers travel to Iceland to face Stjarnan in the first leg of their Europa League first round qualifier tomorrow night, looking to progress beyond the first round for the first time in two years.
Current Rovers manager Stephen Bradley took over at Tallaght Stadium 12 months ago when the club failed to progress past Finish side Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS).
Rovers lost 3-1 on aggregate, including a deflating 2-0 home defeat which resulted in manager Pat Fenlon parting ways with the club following two seasons in charge.
Bradley, 32, has overseen the Hoops ever since and led them to a fourth place league finish in 2016.
He believes his side must remain more disciplined in defence if they are to secure a positive result to bring back to Dublin next week.
Rovers have kept just five clean sheets in 20 Premier Division fixtures in 2017 and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game this season, two thirds of which have come in the second half, and seven of which have arrived in the 85th minute or later in games.
“We can’t defend like that on Thursday and expect to win because we will get punished”, he said, speaking after his side’s 4-1 victory over Drogheda United on Friday.
Bradley took over from Pat Fenlon following their exit from Europe last year. James Crombie / INPHO
James Crombie / INPHO / INPHO
“If we defend like that we will get punished and will get beat. We need to tidy up our defence and correct it.”
Rovers maintained their hold on fourth spot in the Premier Division following their win over Pete Mahon’s side, with Bradley targetting Bray Wanderers in third place as their next domestic objective.
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“It’s all about us looking at the team in front of us which is Bray. We lost up in Derry and I felt that we were very hard done by up there. But I knew that we could catch Derry — I knew that we weren’t a million miles away from them, and the same goes for Bray.
“We just need to keep doing our business. After Bray is Dundalk, but Bray is our next target.”
The win saw goals from teenagers James Doona, 19, and Aaron Bolger, 17, in the second half against Pete Mahon’s side.
Bolger, an underage Ireland international, also provided an assist for Trevor Clarke having come on in the second half.
His manager admits the dynamic midfielder has a bright future ahead of him despite recent setbacks.
“This year he has struggled a little bit,” he said of Bolger.
“He was away with Ireland at the European Championships and before that he had six weeks where he was injured and in a boot so he couldn’t play. That’s the reason he hasn’t been involved until now.
“He is in full-time with us now. He is going to college in the afternoon and is training every morning with us, which is great because it gives him the chance to adapt and gives us the chance to see him every day.
“He plays like he is in his late 20s or early 30s and is only 17. He is going to be a really good player.”
17-year-old Aaron Bolger scored and assisted in Rovers' 4-1 victory against Drogheda United last Friday.
Rovers face a Stjarnan side who play in the Samsungvöllur stadium which has a capacity of just 1,000.
They finished second in the Icelandic first tier in 2016 and are currently third in the domestic league after nine games played.
The club is known for its attacking style of play and has scored more goals than any club in the Úrvalsdeild, with 19, averaging just over two goals per game so far this season.
They came closest to qualifying for the Europa League group stages two seasons ago when they beat Lech Poznan and Motherwell before losing 9-0 on aggregate to Inter Milan in the play-off.
A squad of entirely home-based players in Iceland, last season saw the club lose 6-1 on aggregate to Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers.
“I think there is still lot to improve on,” noted Bradley of Rovers’ own performances this season following Friday’s win.
“But it’s a good game to go into Europe on the back of. We scored four goals tonight and could have had more. Maybe we are being picky but I still think there is room for improvement.”
Asked if the success of Dundalk last season qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League were a possibility for his Rovers side, the Hoops manager remained pragmatic.
“I don’t know, it’s miles away at the minute. We just need to go and try and get through this leg and then see what the draw might bring us.
“Thursday and the following Thursday will be tough games because they are a good side and we need to concentrate on that first of all.”
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'They're a dangerous team going forward' - Bradley cautious ahead of Rovers' trip to Iceland
DESPITE BECOMING THE first Irish club to qualify for the group stages of the Europa League in 2011, Shamrock Rovers have since struggled to match the heights achieved under Michael O’Neill six years ago.
Rovers travel to Iceland to face Stjarnan in the first leg of their Europa League first round qualifier tomorrow night, looking to progress beyond the first round for the first time in two years.
Current Rovers manager Stephen Bradley took over at Tallaght Stadium 12 months ago when the club failed to progress past Finish side Rovaniemen Palloseura (RoPS).
Rovers lost 3-1 on aggregate, including a deflating 2-0 home defeat which resulted in manager Pat Fenlon parting ways with the club following two seasons in charge.
Bradley, 32, has overseen the Hoops ever since and led them to a fourth place league finish in 2016.
He believes his side must remain more disciplined in defence if they are to secure a positive result to bring back to Dublin next week.
Rovers have kept just five clean sheets in 20 Premier Division fixtures in 2017 and conceded an average of 1.4 goals per game this season, two thirds of which have come in the second half, and seven of which have arrived in the 85th minute or later in games.
“We can’t defend like that on Thursday and expect to win because we will get punished”, he said, speaking after his side’s 4-1 victory over Drogheda United on Friday.
“If we defend like that we will get punished and will get beat. We need to tidy up our defence and correct it.”
Rovers maintained their hold on fourth spot in the Premier Division following their win over Pete Mahon’s side, with Bradley targetting Bray Wanderers in third place as their next domestic objective.
“It’s all about us looking at the team in front of us which is Bray. We lost up in Derry and I felt that we were very hard done by up there. But I knew that we could catch Derry — I knew that we weren’t a million miles away from them, and the same goes for Bray.
“We just need to keep doing our business. After Bray is Dundalk, but Bray is our next target.”
The win saw goals from teenagers James Doona, 19, and Aaron Bolger, 17, in the second half against Pete Mahon’s side.
Bolger, an underage Ireland international, also provided an assist for Trevor Clarke having come on in the second half.
His manager admits the dynamic midfielder has a bright future ahead of him despite recent setbacks.
“This year he has struggled a little bit,” he said of Bolger.
“He was away with Ireland at the European Championships and before that he had six weeks where he was injured and in a boot so he couldn’t play. That’s the reason he hasn’t been involved until now.
“He is in full-time with us now. He is going to college in the afternoon and is training every morning with us, which is great because it gives him the chance to adapt and gives us the chance to see him every day.
“He plays like he is in his late 20s or early 30s and is only 17. He is going to be a really good player.”
Rovers face a Stjarnan side who play in the Samsungvöllur stadium which has a capacity of just 1,000.
They finished second in the Icelandic first tier in 2016 and are currently third in the domestic league after nine games played.
The club is known for its attacking style of play and has scored more goals than any club in the Úrvalsdeild, with 19, averaging just over two goals per game so far this season.
They came closest to qualifying for the Europa League group stages two seasons ago when they beat Lech Poznan and Motherwell before losing 9-0 on aggregate to Inter Milan in the play-off.
A squad of entirely home-based players in Iceland, last season saw the club lose 6-1 on aggregate to Brendan Rodgers’ Celtic in the Champions League qualifiers.
“I think there is still lot to improve on,” noted Bradley of Rovers’ own performances this season following Friday’s win.
“But it’s a good game to go into Europe on the back of. We scored four goals tonight and could have had more. Maybe we are being picky but I still think there is room for improvement.”
Asked if the success of Dundalk last season qualifying for the group stages of the Europa League were a possibility for his Rovers side, the Hoops manager remained pragmatic.
“I don’t know, it’s miles away at the minute. We just need to go and try and get through this leg and then see what the draw might bring us.
“Thursday and the following Thursday will be tough games because they are a good side and we need to concentrate on that first of all.”
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