Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Paul O'Hehir

Stephen Bradley hopeful of Shamrock Rovers chances despite Champions League loss

Stephen Bradley insists Shamrock Rovers can win in Iceland and kick on in the Champions League.

The Hoops lost 1-0 at home to Breidablik of Iceland in Tallaght after centre-back Damir Muminovic scored with a long range screamer.

But Bradley saw enough in his team’s second-half display in Tallaght to leave him convinced that Rovers can march on to face Copenhagen in the next round.

Rovers have failed to score in their last three games, after drawing blanks against Drogheda United and Dundalk before this European clash.

But Bradley said: “Three games is a knee jerk reaction. We have created the most opportunities over the last three years.

“Do you have an emotional reaction to three games or three years? I know which I’ll do. It’s a nonsense argument. Look at what we create and score (over the last three years).

“It’s arrogance (to say we should have beaten this team). These are a good side and it doesn’t mean we can’t beat them.”

Assessing the performance, Bradley said: “First-half, we were too passive in everything we did and gave them too much respect when they had possession.

“Second-half, we flipped that and were very good and our press was a lot more aggressive and we penetrated the lines really well.”



And Bradley is adamant that Rovers deserved a draw, with Sean Kavanagh twice going close to equalising in the final three minutes.

“Definitely,” he said of the scope for a draw on the night.

“I don’t think they had a chance in the game and I thought we had the best opportunities and on the second-half performance I think we deserved a draw.

“We know that wasn’t us in the first-half and if we bring the second-half performance to Iceland, I’ve no doubt we can get a result.”

Rovers thought they had won a penalty early in the second-half when Muminovic handled a Kavanagh cross under pressure from Dylan Watts.

But Bradley said: “The referee said his arm was in a natural position. They did check it, so we just have to trust it.”

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.