Past will stand by us tonight

STEPHEN BRADLEY wants Shamrock Rovers to draw on past European experiences in Tallaght when they launch a Champions League rescue mission tonight.

The Hoops host Slovan Bratislava at Tallaght Stadium but are trailing 2-0 after last week’s first-leg in Slovakia.

Alan Mannus’ late penalty save in that game handed the League of Ireland champions a lifeline and Bradley (above) insists there is more to come from his side.

He said: “Slovan are a very good team, there’s no doubting that. They have been dominant in Slovakian football for the last number of years.

“They have a lot of internationals, but we knew all of that before we played them. You don’t get a real feel until you see them in the flesh and play them.

“They were what we thought they would be.

But I still feel there is more in us and I think we will show that.

“Over there, I think we showed them too much respect and the (heat) played a part as well, but they are a good side.”

Last summer, Rovers put it up to AC Milan in a 2-0 Europa League defeat in Tallaght but Bradley prefers to point to other European performances for tonight’s blueprint.

“You can go back to Apollon Limassol (in 2019) when we go a goal behind.

“There have been other games in Europe where we’ve gone a goal behind in Tallaght and we’ve shown tremendous character to come from behind and win the game.

“So it’s not just the

Milan game, it’s our European games in general. We have been very, very good.”

Injured midfielder Chris Mccann will miss the game while long-term absentee Neil Farrugia remains out.