FOR TEN WHOLE minutes Shamrock Rovers supporters dreamed the impossible on Thursday night – all while Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp feared the worst.
Having survived a first-half onslaught, with keeper Richard Brush forced into several superb saves, Stephen Rice put the League of Ireland champions ahead early in the second half of the teams’ Europa League clash in London.
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Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko levelled matters a short time later though, before Jermain Defoe and Giovanni dos Santos sealed victory for the home side with a six-minute goal fest just past the hour mark.
“They got the first goal and I was worried,” Redknapp conceded to the BBC. “But we were always going to create chances and it was just a matter of putting them away. When you pay players a lot all you can ask is that they work hard and this group do.”
“I think they (Rovers) will get a result somewhere,” he went on, speaking to reporters. “They had chances in the first game against Rubin Kazan and they have PAOK to play at home. They are a good side, they are well-organised and Michael O’Neill has done a great job with them, with Jim Magilton’s help.
“I thought their supporters were magnificent. We will look forward to when the time comes to play over in Ireland. It’ll be a great atmosphere and place to play.”
O’Neill, for his part, admitted that his team tired in the second half but was still delighted with his players’ efforts.
“I kept looking at the clock and it was telling us there was a long way to go still. You do start to think ‘can we actually see this out?” he admitted.
“Ultimately, Tottenham’s pace and freshness overcame us in the last half hour but the players gave every ounce of effort. They played with great heart even when the score went to 3-1. They were a credit to themselves, the club and the League of Ireland.
“In the second half you saw a team which is at the end of its season against one at the start of its season and that’s the reality. Given the difference in quality between the teams we need to be as fresh as possible. Some of our players have played 50 competitive games this season. It was a huge ask.”
Rovers goal had 'Arry worried
FOR TEN WHOLE minutes Shamrock Rovers supporters dreamed the impossible on Thursday night – all while Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp feared the worst.
Having survived a first-half onslaught, with keeper Richard Brush forced into several superb saves, Stephen Rice put the League of Ireland champions ahead early in the second half of the teams’ Europa League clash in London.
Striker Roman Pavlyuchenko levelled matters a short time later though, before Jermain Defoe and Giovanni dos Santos sealed victory for the home side with a six-minute goal fest just past the hour mark.
“They got the first goal and I was worried,” Redknapp conceded to the BBC. “But we were always going to create chances and it was just a matter of putting them away. When you pay players a lot all you can ask is that they work hard and this group do.”
“I think they (Rovers) will get a result somewhere,” he went on, speaking to reporters. “They had chances in the first game against Rubin Kazan and they have PAOK to play at home. They are a good side, they are well-organised and Michael O’Neill has done a great job with them, with Jim Magilton’s help.
O’Neill, for his part, admitted that his team tired in the second half but was still delighted with his players’ efforts.
“I kept looking at the clock and it was telling us there was a long way to go still. You do start to think ‘can we actually see this out?” he admitted.
“Ultimately, Tottenham’s pace and freshness overcame us in the last half hour but the players gave every ounce of effort. They played with great heart even when the score went to 3-1. They were a credit to themselves, the club and the League of Ireland.
“In the second half you saw a team which is at the end of its season against one at the start of its season and that’s the reality. Given the difference in quality between the teams we need to be as fresh as possible. Some of our players have played 50 competitive games this season. It was a huge ask.”
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Field of Dreams Harry Redknapp Michael O'Neill Shamrock Rovers Stephen Rice Tottenham