Stephen Bradley: ‘We need to share the goals around and can't be reliant on one person’

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Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley hailed his side’s ability to spread goals – and not just rely on one player to score.

The Hoops are on course to win a fourth league title in a row following their 1-0 win over Dundalk on Friday night at Tallaght Stadium.

But the victory was secured by a goal from defender Roberto Lopes as he headed home a Dylan Watts corner-kick.

Bradley subsequently revealed that the spread of goals within his side is something he works on in his role as boss.

“Everyone wants someone who can score 40 goals a season but that's why they cost 200-million,” he explained. “They are very hard to get.

“We have always looked at that and we need to share the goals around. We can't be reliant on one person.

“Look at Dundalk, Patrick Hoban was their man for years but if he was injured or suspended, where do the goals come from? It's a difficult one.

“We have always said it has to come from the team. When Stephen McPhail came in he spoke about Cardiff City winning the Championship and their top scorer (Heidar Helguson) had nine goals. We went through it and realised that's how we need to go.

“You can't rely on one person and with how we play we allow Rory (Gaffney) to come off and overload certain areas.

“He's not just a centre forward and there’s so much more to the game and young Johnny Kenny is learning that at the moment.



“We want everyone to chip in, that's always been the case, we've been the top scorers in the last three years.”

While Rovers claimed their fifth home league win in a row on Friday evening, the result was more significant than that.

The Hoops have now all but ended Dundalk’s slim title hopes and remain four points clear at the top of the table.

But it snapped Shamrock Rovers two-game losing streak against the Lilywhites.

“It felt significant,” Bradley added. “You have to put in the fact that they beat us twice in the last two times we played them.

“They are a good side and we know they are dangerous in transition.



“There are eight games left and we have a lot of big games left between now and the end of the season. They are all big so it's a big win.”

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