Hoops Head Coach Bradley hails match winners Mandroiu and Mannus

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

After Shamrock Rovers’ 2-1 home win over Dundalk on Friday night, Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley was singing the praises of his players. 

“We scored two great goals,” said Bradley about the goals from Danny Mandroiu and Dylan Watts. “For Danny’s one, he is so dangerous around the box with his left or right foot.”

The Hoops worked a quick free kick that Mandroiu took to start the move before finishing to score his first goal for his new club ten minutes from the half-time break. The former Bohs-man then turned provider for Watts’ goal on 76 minutes.

“We give our players in the final third of the pitch the freedom to go and express themselves. If they see something on quickly, they can go and do that. Danny did it tonight and it paid off.

“He has been excellent. He has worked really hard and his attitude has been first class. He scored the goal tonight but there is a lot of work that he has done behind the scenes to get to this point.

"There is so much more to come from him and the team. The more games he plays and we play, the only better we will get.

“We know what Dylan can do around the box. He was excellent when he came on. He showed real quality and he effectively wins us the game.”

The Hoops were made work for their victory though with Dundalk creating a number of chances requiring Alan Mannus to be on his toes, with the Lilywhites hitting the frame of the goal before Pat Hoban scored a minute from time.

Bradley praised his ‘keeper for those saves but also how under pressure at the back Mannus was able to start a number of Rovers moves. 

“Alan is the best in the country and there is a reason for that – in big games he makes big saves. I thought his distribution was first class tonight. We knew they would press high and we knew he was going to be important in terms of beating that press. He did that five or six times in the game and I thought he was fantastic.”

The Hoops Head Coach was also happy to be able to hand Gary O’Neill his first appearance for Rovers since the first week of October – with the midfielder missing the last seven matches of last season due to injury. Watts meanwhile has had to contend with three appearances off the bench so far this year.

“I’m delighted for Gary as himself and Dylan have been unfortunate not to be playing. It is small margins that they aren’t starting right now but I know how important they are for us – both are big players for this football club.

"They have been the ultimate professionals in terms of how they have gone about their business, how they have trained, how they manged not being in the team.” 

The victory was Rovers’ first of the season – having drawn at home on opening night against St. Patrick’s Athletic.

Their game away to Derry City last week was postponed due to an international callup for City ‘keeper Nathan Gartside (although he did not travel with the Northern Ireland squad as an administrative error in not registering with UEFA a therapeutic use exemption for medication ruled him out).

That game has been refixed for later in the month – requiring Rovers to play seven league fixtures in April. “We are not happy that we have to go away to Sligo on a Saturday and Derry away on a Tuesday. I don’t know who comes up with these games. It is ridiculous but we will be ready.” 

In Pictures: Shamrock Rovers 2 - 1 Dundalk https://t.co/7xJoDeSXcqpic.twitter.com/d8yS7oNn5F

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 3, 2021