Match odds: Shamrock Rovers 13/2, Spurs 4/9, Draw 10/3
SHAMROCK ROVERS WILL look to end their Europa League adventure on a high by picking up their first points in the competition when they host Tottenham this evening.
Despite valiantly representing the club and the Airtricity League this season, the Hoops have nothing to show from the previous five games so a result in front of a 8,500 sell-out crowd would give manager Michael O’Neill the best possible send-off.
Sitting third in the group, Spurs know that qualification is out of their hands. Even a win tonight may not be enough as they also need PAOK Salonika to beat Rubin Kazin and hope for a five-goal turnaround on the Russians.
The question is, is Harry really that bothered?
The North Londoners have played weakened sides in Europe in a bid to keep up their hunt for a top four finish in the Premier League and Redknapp has left a number of his big names at home.
However, as he was quick to mention, the squad Spurs have brought still contains seven internationals.
“Defoe is here, Gio Dos Santos, Benoit Assou-Ekotto, Kaboul, Pienaar, Niko, Sandro, they will all play. Danny Rose is an England Under-21 international,” he said on the club’s official website.
“I’ve left five or six of the senior players behind – the likes of Modric, Parker, Adebayor – but we have a very good team.”
The Score says: Even without half their squad Spurs are a daunting proposition, but we’re going with Rovers to nick a draw.
Europa League Preview: Shamrock Rovers v Tottenham Hotspur
SHAMROCK ROVERS WILL look to end their Europa League adventure on a high by picking up their first points in the competition when they host Tottenham this evening.
Despite valiantly representing the club and the Airtricity League this season, the Hoops have nothing to show from the previous five games so a result in front of a 8,500 sell-out crowd would give manager Michael O’Neill the best possible send-off.
As expected, it was confirmed yesterday that O’Neill’s hugely successful three-year spell at the club will come to close at the end of the month, with the Northern Ireland post a possible destination for the 42-year-old.
Sitting third in the group, Spurs know that qualification is out of their hands. Even a win tonight may not be enough as they also need PAOK Salonika to beat Rubin Kazin and hope for a five-goal turnaround on the Russians.
The question is, is Harry really that bothered?
The North Londoners have played weakened sides in Europe in a bid to keep up their hunt for a top four finish in the Premier League and Redknapp has left a number of his big names at home.
However, as he was quick to mention, the squad Spurs have brought still contains seven internationals.
“I’ve left five or six of the senior players behind – the likes of Modric, Parker, Adebayor – but we have a very good team.”
The Score says: Even without half their squad Spurs are a daunting proposition, but we’re going with Rovers to nick a draw.
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Europa League 2011 Harry Redknapp Michael O'Neill Spurred On Shamrock Rovers Tottenham Hotspur