Stephen Bradley: ‘We know it is a results business’

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

Shamrock Rovers come into the latest Dublin derby at home to Shelbourne on Friday finally with some momentum in their quest to retain their league title.

The Hoops ended the first round of games in the Premier Division by winning three in a row and now sit third in the table on 14 points – a tally just three less than they had at this stage of last season.

Rovers are still seven points off table toppers Bohemians and the congested nature of the table means that only four points separate second placed Derry City and eighth placed Dundalk. However, the Hoops having claimed ten points from the last dozen on offer are heading in the right direction.

Speaking to extratime.com after Monday’s win over UCD – their first home win of the season – Bradley reflected on the start to his team’s season now we have reached the quarter mark of the campaign.

“I think the reason there was no panic in the dressingroom was because we knew that our eyes were telling us what the stats were also saying,” said Bradley who saw his team go seven games before winning a match.

“We knew we were right there with our performances and if we stayed there, the results would come on the back of those performances. We know we are in a results business and they are key but we've always focused on the performances. In the last few weeks we've got the results to match them which is good.

“I don't see that the performance levels have gone up dramatically (in recent weeks). I just think we are being more ruthless in both boxes.”

In their last three games, they have kept three clean sheets and scored nine goals along the way. Eradicating conceding poor goals have helped and crucially Graham Burke and Jack Byrne have looked back to their very best, with both getting on the scoresheet against the Students on Easter Monday.

Burke now has five goals to his name (only Sligo Rovers’ Max Mata has scored more) and Byrne has two goals and two assists with the Hoops scoring seven goals from Byrne’s corners.

“Both players are just continuing on their form and are really on it at the moment. They are working extremely hard and adding goals and assists. When you have them two in that form, what that mindset, they are a handful for anyone to play against like UCD found out.

“We said last week that the aim was to set ourselves up going into the Shelbourne game with nine points and we've done that after a difficult away game on Friday (winning 2-0 in Dalymount).

“We dominated the (UCD) game. They had one break out in the first half but other than that we controlled the transition that they were always going to try to play in. I'm really happy with the performance.”

Being 3-0 up before the hour mark allowed Bradley to use his bench early – making four changes before the 68th minute, giving valuable game time to Justin Ferizaj and Conan Noonan (who faced a lengthy spell away from football last season due to Covid).

“I wanted to get Conan and Justin on the pitch. For Conan, in what he has come off the back of, it is great to have him back out there. You can see his quality on the ball, on dead balls, with both feet. He is a joy to work with. Justin has worked extremely hard behind the scenes so it was good to get them back on the pitch”.

The last two scoreless draws the Hoops have played have been against Shelbourne and the Reds gave Rovers a real scare late last season when only a Rory Gaffney injury time goal gave the Hoops a win that was crucial to them retaining their title.

“We know the way they will come here. I don't think there will be an surprises. They will come deep and try and hit us on transition or from set plays. We have to respect that as there is more than one way to play or win a game of football. We definetly have to work extremly hard to break them down. We know when we get our opportunities on Friday we need to take them.”

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— Extratime.com (@ExtratimeNews) April 12, 2023