Rice and Rovers on the Right
Credit:
Following two successive draws there is hope that Shamrock Rovers have halted the decline and are no longer in free fall.
The performance last week against Derry City would have more often than not been good enough to win the game. Against Finn Harps on Friday night they were probably the better side right up until they scored but after that the home side came into the game and could well have snatched a late winner but for an excellent save by Hoops' goalkeeper Barry Murphy.
Recent signing Stephen Rice has been an integral player for Pat Scully this season. Only three players have started all of Rovers league games this season and Rice is one of them. An early indication of how highly Scully rates the former Bohs midfielder came before the start of the season when it was announced that he would captain the side until the return of club captain Aidan Price.
Speaking to extratime.ie, Rice was optimistic that Rovers will turn things around - "We are going through a difficult patch and I thought we deserved to win against Derry - they got a very dubious goal. When you are in a rut little things don't seem to go for you but we have just got to keep working hard".
He continued, "There is no reason why we cant challenge for the top spots. There is no reason why we cant put a run together like Bray have recently and start climbing the table. The main thing is we stick together".
To the surprise of many, Rice has been deployed on the right hand side of midfield recently. For the Derry game it was thought that part of the reasoning behind the change was to provide some extra cover against the threat of Owen Morrison - however he again lined up there against Finn Harps.
Rice explained the reasons for the move and made it clear he is willing to play anywhere for Rovers. "Its something we have been working on in training and the feeling is that we can get Ger O'Brien forward more often like that. Pat asked me to do a job out there for him and I'm just happy to play. Obviously I prefer being in centre midfield, but he is the manager for a reason and if he wants me out there, or anywhere else for that matter, I have no problem with that whatsoever".
With Price having to leave the action early at Finn Park last Friday its quite possible that Rice will again be wearing the armband for next Fridays home game against Drogheda.
Shamrock Rovers v Drogheda United - this Friday night at Tolka Park.
