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Irish Mirror
Irish Mirror
Sport
Paul O'Hehir

Stephen Bradley insists Shamrock Rovers are up for European fight

Stephen Bradley wants Shamrock Rovers to draw on past European experiences in Tallaght when they launch a Champions League rescue mission tomorrow.

The Hoops host Slovan Bratislava at Tallaght Stadium but are trailing 2-0 after last week’s first-leg in Slovakia.

Alan Mannus’ late penalty save in that game handed the League of Ireland champions a lifeline and Bradley insists there is more to come from his side.

He said: “Slovan are a very good team, there’s no doubting that. They have been dominant in Slovakian football for the last number of years.

“They have a lot of internationals, but we knew all of that before we played them. You don't get a real feel until you see them in the flesh and play them.

“They were what we thought they would be. But I still feel there is more in us and I think we will show that tomorrow night.

“Over there, I think we showed them too much respect and the (heat) played a part as well, but they are a good side.”

Stephen Bradley (©INPHO/Bryan Keane)

Last summer, Rovers put it up to AC Milan in a 2-0 Europa League defeat in Tallaght but Bradley prefers to point to other European performances for tomorrow’s blueprint.

“You can go back to Apollon Limassol (in 2019) when we go a goal behind.

“There have been other games in Europe where we've gone a goal behind in Tallaght and we have shown tremendous character to come from behind and win the game.

“So it's not just the Milan game, it's our European games in general. We have been very, very good.

“The other night (in Slovakia) we were okay but there is definitely more in the group. You could feel it in the dressing room afterwards and on the way home.

“It was incredibly hot. We’ve played in Cyprus but Cyprus was nothing like that as it was a lot calmer when it was game time.

“Game time in the arena was 36 degrees which was incredible, so it was definitely a factor in the game but you can't control that.

“We just have to make sure we're focussed and we concentrate for 90 minutes because we switched off for two minutes over there and got punished for both.”

Bradley added: “We can be better in every aspect, and I’m sure we'll show that tomorrow without being naive and not respecting what they are.”

Midfielder Chris McCann will miss the game as he continues his recovery from injury while long-term absentee Neil Farrugia remains out.

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