European knock-out stage football belief for Stephen Bradley: ‘That is where we want to be’

Macdara Ferris reports from Tallaght Stadium

This week the Hoops played their first league game under the Friday night lights of Tallaght since the end of May and after playing eight weeks in a row in Europe in July and August, it is a Europe free zone in September on the pitch at least for Shamrock Rovers. 

However, Europe is never far from their minds even if the Hoops must concentrate on playing a spell of five league games in 15 days which started last night with the 4-0 win over Sligo Rovers.

That victory, along with their first clean sheet in all competitions since the start of July, will go a long way to assuage concerns about Rovers at the very least finishing in the top three as they seek to secure European football for next season - fourth place will most likely only be good enough if the victor of today’s Derry City v Shelbourne FAI Cup tie lifts the trophy in the Aviva in November.

Belfast bound

The league stages of the Conference League begin for Rovers with a home game against APOEL in the first week of October, followed by a trip up the M1 to face Larne later that month. So with that second fixture in mind, Stephen Bradley will spend his Saturday afternoon today in Belfast.

“I’m going to see Larne play a tough one against Linfield at Windsor,” said Bradley when asked by extratime.com about this scouting plan for Europe. “I get to that one and then we have time to see The New Saints at the end of this month, early next month probably.”

Chelsea call

Before that though the European scouting can continue for Bradley and his players this Saturday evening by simply turning on Sky Sports to watch Rovers’ final league stage opponents Chelsea when they take on Bournemouth.

The Hoops Head Coach is happy for his players to talk about Europe but noted that closer to domestic game time it is different. “I'm sure they would watch Chelsea either way,” said Bradley dismissing talk of a ban on European discussion in the dressing room.

“They all watch football which is a good thing. I've no problem with the players talking about games (in Europe). It is about when we come into the 24 hours before Sligo, it is focus (on that). It is about understanding if we are thinking about Chelsea or anyone else and we are playing Sligo, you get beat. It is as simple as that.

"I've no problem about people talking about it but then it is about right, it is time to get down to business, time to switch on and focus.”

Having had a painful defeat to Bohemians a fortnight ago, the Hoops had a big training block away from matches and that included a couple of days of double sessions last week.

Bradley is looking to manage his players’ minutes with the aim of finishing the domestic season strongly and then going on to qualify out of the league stage of the revamped Conference League.

The next phase of the competition will see 24 of the 36 teams qualify, with the knock-out round taking place over two legs beginning in mid-February. That would have knock on effects for Rovers and the new domestic league season that starts at the same time but that would be a headache that Bradley wouldn’t mind having.

“It's been nice the last 10 days to have training and not be worried about travelling and preparing for European games. It does take a lot out of you mentally and physically. September is now just domestic games for us so let's see if we can go on a run, starting with the win tonight, and see where it takes us. 

“We won't get a break as such. Hopefully we don't and we are doing well enough in Europe that we are in that play-off as well. That is where we want to be. It is about managing the load, looking and thinking where do we need (friendly) games to fill-in in between the European games.

"When can we give the players the time off because we aren't going to get a lot of time off. And thinking of next season so there is a lot that goes into it - where we are in terms of minutes. We have had a lot of injuries so a lot of players need games and minutes rather than taking them out and resting them. It is trying to get that balance right.

“It was strange to be back to a Friday night with all of the European stuff going on. We've had time to train the last ten days and you could see that tonight, in the final third our mindset was really good, aggressive."

Byrne getting back to his level

Jack Byrne played a crucial part in the Hoops win over the Bit O’ Red and will do so in the remainder of the season. He provided the assists for both of Sean Hoare’s headed goals and was involved in the buildup to the first of Johnny Kenny’s two goals. 

“We are trying to get him up to speed,” said Bradley about the Ireland international player who, due to injury, didn’t start a game for Rovers this season until mid-March.

“Against PAOK here I think even though it was  a different game and he played in a different position, you could see he was getting back to his level. You could see he felt good in himself on the pitch and when Jack feels good in himself, he produces and you can see signs of that. 

“I didn't want to play him against Bohs because it was such a quick turnaround (from PAOK at home) and then tonight you could see he is getting back to it. The 90 minutes will do him good.”

Twenty goal target

Kenny’s goals brought him to a dozen in the league from 22 appearances (along with two in Europe), one behind the league’s top scorer Padraig Amond. Bradley believes his loan striker could hit 20 goals for the season – a mark a Rovers player hasn’t reached since Gary Twigg last achieved that feat back in 2012.

“I've no doubt about that and there's still time to get there,” said Bradley about the 21-year-old reaching that landmark. “What have we got left? Eight games? There's no doubt Johnny can go and get 20 goals.”

Decisive win

Sligo Rovers had turned the Hoops over 2-0 in the Showgrounds the last time with former Hoops player Simon Power scoring both goals so Bradley was pleased with how his team managed the attacking threat from the Bit O’ Red this time around in Tallaght.

“They are really dangerous, with Simon's pace and Will Fitzgerald's pace. They are probably the most European-like team you play against in this league. If your press is off or your balance is wrong, Simon will punish you because they are so quick.

"It’s that European type pace where it's next level so you have to be really on it with the press. We gave him one chance in the game but otherwise we did really well, it was pleasing we didn't really give up anything silly.”

Galway match up on Monday

Next week the Hoops have too crucial away matches against second placed Derry City on Friday but before that they begin the week taking on John Caulfield’s Galway United on Monday. Both teams are on 42 points having played 28 matches with two games in hand on three of the four teams above them.

“The selection tonight of the first XI and the subs were about thinking about Monday. We know what we are going into. John's teams are very very good at what they do. You have to respect them. They are very good in both boxes. They work extremely hard and are an extremely honest group. 

“They are having a brilliant season. We know we are going into a tough game. We aren't thinking about anything else. I believe that if this group is focused and ready like they were tonight we  can go anywhere and win and that will be the aim on Monday.”