Brown not looking beyond Rovers clash

A POSSIBLE first versus second clash is looming on Friday as Drogheda United prepare to face Bray Wanderers at the Carlisle Grounds, but that’s the last thing on James Brown’s mind as the Boynesiders must first take on Shamrock Rovers II tonight (Tuesday).

Ten-man Drogheda had to battle their way back from 2-0 down to claim a hard-earned point in Tallaght earlier in the season and despite the Hoops’ lowly league position Brown believes his side cannot afford to look beyond the Rovers clash.

Speaking after Friday night’s superb 3-1 victory at the UCD

Bowl, secured after a brilliant penalty stop by David Odumosu, Brown said: ‘I know the other results and Bray are still two points ahead of us, but that was a massive result for us. It was a massive save from Dave as well because it could easily have been a draw and two points dropped.

‘Rovers will be a massive game again and we owe them one. Every game is nearly like a cup final coming to the end because we’ve only six games left.

‘Bray will be a big game as well, but we just need to take Rovers and try and get by them. We’ve six huge games coming up - it’s not just Bray - so we just need to focus on Tuesday.’

The good sprinkling of Drogheda supporters at UCD might have guessed that manager Tim Clancy read the riot act at half-time, given the way the team came out all guns blazing immediately after the restart, but Brown insisted that wasn’t the case.

‘We didn’t play too bad in the first half even though we gave away a sloppy goal.

‘We were playing half-decent and he just said keep doing what you’re doing but be a bit sharper and that’s what we did really.

‘We came out of the blocks flying and had chances straightaway, and the second half was probably our best performance of the season.’

Conceding avoidable goals has become something of a trait for Drogheda in recent weeks and Brown agreed it’s an area of their game they need to improve on.

‘Possibly conceding early goals is a weakness in our game, but they’re just individual mistakes which can easily be cleaned up.

‘It’s sloppiness from the getgo. We’re doing well to come back in games and we’re playing well as a unit, but we need to focus on that and keep a clean sheet.

‘I think the lads are coming on strong in games, we’re showing our fitness levels and I’m loving my football and feeling good.’