Pico’s always ready when he’s needed
BRADLEY PRAISES DEFENDER AFTER ‘RESTING’ HIM
STEPHEN BRADLEY says he grounded match-winner Roberto Lopes for Shamrock Rovers’ trip to Waterford because of his recent jet-setting antics.
But he wasn’t surprised to see the centre-half pop up with a flying header to earn the Hoops three valuable points.
Lopes was benched for the RSC clash after a recent heavy workload, which included two games for Cape Verde in Saudi Arabia.
He started their 1-0 wins against Guyana and Equatorial
Guinea in Jeddah and then completed another 90 minutes in last Friday’s 3-1 win over Bohs.
However, plans to give him a rest were upended when an injury to Lee Grace just 31 minutes into the Waterford game forced him into the fray.
Lopes showed his value to the team with an excellent display in the centre of defence and with a stunning headed winner 19 minutes from time.
He threw himself at Conan Noonan’s left-wing cross, sending an unstoppable header past
Sam Sargeant.
“It’s a hell of a header, a brilliant ball from Conan but it’s a hell of a header from Pico,” beamed boss Bradley.
“We took him out because that would have been his fourth game in just over eight days. Then you take flights into consideration. It’s been a heavy week for him.
“So we took him out, but we obviously needed him early, he came on and he was always going to be ready in his own head.
“We know with this team that if you put the ball in the right areas you will have people there to attack it, but it’s a hell of a header.”
Next up for Rovers is Friday’s short trip to St Patrick’s Athletic and Bradley (above) hopes to have Dean Gaffney back to full fitness, while Johnny Kenny remains a doubt.
Grace and Aaron Greene, who came off on Monday, will be monitored during the week.
“Lee slipped when he went to run and he felt his hamstring,” said Bradley. “But he came off straight away, so hopefully it’s not too bad.
“Aaron got a dead leg but hopefully it will settle by Friday.”