Credit: Extratime Team (ETPhotos)
Europa League Preview: RoPS Rovaniemi -v- Shamrock Rovers
- Dave Donnelly
- Thu, Jul 07 2016
RoPS ROVANIEMI
RoPS Rovaniemi take a commanding 2-0 lead into the second leg of their Europa League Second Qualifying Round tie at Rovaniemen Keskuskentta (kick-off 6pm CET) having easily won the opening leg in Tallaght.
Goals in either half from Jukka Landehmaki and Janne Saksela saw last season's Veikkausliga runners-up coast to victory in a game devoid of any real quality from either side.
RoPS boss Juha Malinen was able to call on Aleksandr Kokko – top scorer in the league last season – as a second-half substitute after he overcame injury and may hand the striker a starting role tonight.
SHAMROCK ROVERS
Last Thursday's 2-0 defeat proved to be Pat Fenlon's last game in charge of the Hoops, as he was removed from his position on Sunday.
Assistant manager Stephen Bradley is to take charge of the team for the away leg, with Glenn Cronin and player-coach and captain Stephen McPhail alongside him.
Nevertheless, up to 40 Rovers fans have made the parlous journey north to the town just 10 kilometres south of the Arctic Circle to witness the best that Scandinavian astroturf has to offer.
Bradley will have to do without striker Danny North, who failed to make the trip north with a knee injury, while David O'Connor is unlikely to feature, necessitating a switch to left-back for the versatile Gavin Brennan.
Referee: Dejan Jakimovksi (FYRO Macedonia)
MATCH STATS
Last week's fixture was the first time both Shamrock Rovers and Pat Fenlon had faced a Finnish side in Europe.
No League of Ireland side has ever won a competitive game in Finland.
There is some experience of the Finnish league within the Rovers set-up, however, as Head of Youth Development spent two years there with FC Haka before returning for a second spell at the Hoops.
No League of Ireland team has ever lost a home first leg and come back to win the tie.
BETTING
RoPS Rovaniemi 8/11; Draw 5/2; Shamrock Rovers 10/3.
PREDICTION
RoPS Rovaniemi 2 – 1 Shamrock Rovers
RoPS Rovaniemi
Injured: Unknown.
Doubtful: Unknown.
Suspended: None.
Shamrock Rovers
Injured: Danny North (knee).
Doubtful: David O'Connor.
Suspended: None.
