Stephen Bradley: 'We were brave and we got our reward' with Dundalk win

Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley has credited his side’s bravery as the key factor in their 2-1 win over Dundalk in their Permier Division game on Friday night.

Goals on the night from Ronan Finn and David McAllister gave Rovers a comfortable three points, with the Lilywhites scoring a late consolation through Nicklas Vemmelund, and Bradley says it was the high pressing of his team that gave them the edge on the night.

“I thought in the second half we were really brave and kept a really high line, and we got our reward”, he said.

“We worked hard [on pressing] in pre-season, and I think you can see that out on the pitch – all of them look really fit.”

“We spoke last week about conceding late on, and the reason we did it was because we dropped too deep for the whole of the second-half as a team.”

“At half time we said ‘no matter what, we don’t drop. As a team, we stay high, we press them really high, and we’ll get our rewards, and we did.”

Bradley also praised the performance of his captain, Finn, calling the ex-Dundalk man’s performance his best in a Hoops jersey so far.

“I don’t think they could handle what he brought in terms of his energy and his legs”, he said.

“He’s been a different class.”

After the game Bradley called for patience from the Rovers faithful as the team comes together, saying that they’re 'not a million miles away' but that talk of immediate league glory was 'nonsense.'

“We’re together four months”, Bradley commented, “they need to recognize where we are trying to go as a group and as a team, and be patient.”

“Things like this don’t happen overnight”.

The next game coming for the Tallaght side is the Dublin Derby against Bohemians next Friday in Dalymount Park, and Bradley said it’s the perfect occasion to keep up the momentum for his team.

“It’s a great game to go into off this one, because when you play big games and you win then the next week things can go a bit flat”, he said.

“But it doesn’t get any bigger than Bohs away.”