Europa Conference League Preview: Shamrock Rovers -v- Molde

Tallaght Stadium

Tallaght Stadium Credit: Eddie Lennon (ETPhotos)

SHAMROCK ROVERS

The Hoops bid to keep their faint UEFA Europa Conference League hopes alive when they welcome Molde to Tallaght Stadium tonight with kick off at 8pm.

Rovers sit bottom of the group with just one point from three games which have included heavy away defeats against Gent and Molde.

The Hoops came under fire for a seriously below par performance in Norway last week in a game they rested key players and offered absolutely no attacking threat. 

The decision to rest the likes of Jack Byrne, Graham Burke, Neil Farrugia, Rory Gaffney and Dylan Watts was vindicated as Bradley’s side came from behind late on to steal a 3-2 victory over Shelbourne on Sunday with Gaffney’s 95th minute goal to move five points clear of Derry City in the Premier Division title race.

However, that hasn’t meant that Bradley has given up the ghost in Europe and he still harbours belief that his team can progress to the knockout stages with consecutive home games against Molde and Gent crucial.

"I think we can [qualify]," said Bradley speaking at the pre-match press conference in Tallaght Stadium. "If we win our next two games, it's all to play for against Djurgardens.

"But we have to take care of a difficult game (against Molde) and then Gent, and both games we lost quite comfortably away. We know we have to [reach our levels] if we want to win both, but I think if we win both, we are right there, because the group is really tight."

A more progressive approach is expected in Tallaght Stadium.

"When you’re playing away from home in Europe, it’s not just the 90 minutes," said Bradley.



"The players that play those 90 minutes, obviously have to travel, have to get on buses, have to get on planes, and you’re not getting home until four or five in the morning, travelling from Belfast or Shannon or wherever. So you have got to factor that in for the next game as well.

"So when you’re playing at home you can approach the game in a different way and thankfully our next two games are at home and I think that will help us."

Rovers are yet to lose at home in over 12 months but they did come perilously close to having that record smashed against Shels when they trailed with six minutes to go. Bradley feels his Hoops are capable of beating anybody at home having already beaten Ludogorets and Ferencvaros this term.

"Any team that is unbeaten in 12 months would say that they would fancy playing anyone at home, and we’re no different," said Bradley.

"But we’re not naïve enough to think that these could become a bad team overnight. They beat us quite comfortably last week and they won 5-0 at the weekend.

"They are a very good side, we know that. But we believe that when we perform to our levels, we believe we can beat anyone here and hopefully we can show that tomorrow night."



MOLDE

Molde are currently fifteen points clear at the summit of the Eliteserien so they know they can afford to attack this game.

The Norwegian side needed to win last week and did just that with a comprehensive 3-0 win over Rovers in a game they barely broke sweat, leapfrogging Gent into second in the process.

Molde are in fantastic form winning their last six games in all competitions while they are also the top scorers in Group F with five.

 

MATCH STATS

Shamrock Rovers are still waiting for their first goal of this year’s Group Stage.

A win would be the Tallaght side’s first in a European Group Stage having lost all six games in the 2011 Europa League.

Flora Tallin are the last side to beat Shamrock Rovers at home in any competition. That was in August 2021.

Shamrock Rovers

Injured: Chris McCann, Simon Power

Doubtful: Andy Lyons

Suspended: None

Molde

Injured: N/A

Suspended: N/A

Doubtful: N/A

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