Europa Conference League play-off Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Flora Tallinn

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops will have to make history on Thursday if they are to qualify for the group stages of the Europa Conference League as no League of Ireland side has overturned a two-goal deficit from the first leg to win a knock out European tie.

However, records are made to be broken and if there is to be a League of Ireland side who can manage it, then this experienced Shamrock Rovers side is as well placed to do so as any other. 

Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley has moulded his squad over recent years into a formable team.

Having ended a 32 FAI Cup drought in 2019, their league winning team went through the shortened 18-match season in 2020 without defeat and set a new league record of 33 games unbeaten across the end of the 2019 season and into the 2021 league campaign.

They have only lost the once in Tallaght Stadium this season.

In their last four European ties where they have played away from home first, they have won the home leg each time on their return. Against Brann in 2019, they drew 2-2 away before winning 2-1 at home.

Against Slovan Bratislava in this year’s Champions League qualifiers they lost 2-0 away from home, before winning the home leg 2-1.

"Looking back at history it tells you that these players perform on the big stage,” said Hoops Head Coach Stephen Bradley. “We had an off night last week but nine times out of ten these players perform. 

“We know we need a special night in Tallaght, we know we need to make it a special night and we can. Hopefully at the end of the night that's what we're talking about."

A 2-1 win will not be good enough this time around, but an early goal in front of 3,5000 spectators and it will surely rattle the visitors. Even though the Hoops lost the away leg 4-2, they are unlikely to play as poorly defensively in the second leg.

“We had an off night on Thursday,” said Bradley reflecting on the first leg. “We made some wrong decisions and some mistakes, and if you do that the way we play you leave yourself open to get punished. We did and we got punished.

“I know that it will definitely help us,” said Bradley about the increased capacity in Tallaght which is set to have its largest attendance since February 2020.

“The fans have been brilliant since they came back. The 1,500 have been fantastic but having the 3,500 will give us the energy that we're going to need to have a right go at the tie. It will definitely help our performance.

Thursday’s game is being played ten years and one day after the historic Hoops 2-1 away win after extra-time in Serbia against Partizan Belgrade in their last European play-off. That victory qualified them for the group stages of the Europa League. 

Time for more history to be made in Tallaght Stadium on Thursday night maybe.

FLORA TALLINN

Flora are on the brink of Estonian football history with their 4-2 first leg lead giving them a great chance of becoming the first club from the Meistriliiga to qualify for the group stages of a UEFA club competition.

“I'm happy that we scored four goals,” said Henn about his team’s position after the first leg. 

He was delighted that his pressing plan paid dividends early in the game in Tallinn. “The first goal came from good pressure from our team. I maybe expected more pressure without the ball from Rovers. 

“Taking this two goal advantage (to Dublin) is very good. The drawback is we conceded two quite simple avoidable goals” 

His side have already come as close as possible to qualifying for the inaugural Europa Conference League competition from their last European tie.

They lost to Cypriot champions Omonia on penalties in the Europa League third qualifying round. A win there would have got them into the play-off of the Europa League and automatic entry into the Conference League group stages should they have lost that play-off tie.

Like Rovers, they had a free weekend between the first and second legs of this European tie and they have lost just the one league game this season, conceding only 12 goals in 17 games (including ten clean sheets).

The prize money awaiting the winner is €2.94m and entry into the group stages where each point is worth €166,000.

The loser will collect €750,000 for elimination at this stage plus an additional payment of €260,000 as a domestic champion failing to make the group stages of any of the three UEFA competitions.

Referee: Tamás Bognár (Hungary)

MATCH STATS

Rovers had not conceded four goals in Europe since December 2011 when they lost 4-0 to Spurs in Tallaght Stadium. Harry Kane scored his first goal for Tottenham that evening. 

The Hungarian referee in charge on Thursday Tamas Bognar officiated last season in Dundalk’s 3-1 home defeat to Rapid Vienna.

Graham Burke scored in Tallinn in the first leg to bring his tally in Europe to six extending his position as top of the European goalscorer chart for Rovers. Liam Tuohy and Billy Dixon scored four goals while Pico Lopes, along with Johnny Fullam and Gary McCabe, have three goals.

PREDICTION

2-1 home win 

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Neil Farrugia, Lee Grace

Doubtful:  None

Suspended: None

Flora Tallinn

Injured: None

Doubtful: None

Suspended: None

Longread: When a play-off win for Shamrock Rovers over Partizan resulted in glory of the Europa League group stages https://t.co/BD6mG2XcSJpic.twitter.com/DGFVxzUt9B

— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) August 25, 2021