‘We know we’re up against it’
FOR Shamrock Rovers, the Europa League challenge in Tallaght Stadium tonight (7.05) is to know when to be disciplined and when to be daring against Sweden’s bestsupported club, AIK Stockholm.
On UEFA rankings, Rovers are the outsiders against the Swedish League leaders and playing at home first puts them at a slight disadvantage.
Midfielder Greg Bolger, who has chalked up 21 games in Europe, is aware of the task confronting the Hoops as they seek to establish a foothold for the return in the 50,000-capacity Friends Arena.
‘We know we are going to be up against it and we are going to have to have eight or nine out of 10 performances from everyone to keep it alive,’ he says.
‘As the home team you need to take the game to them. But you can’t be going mad and leave yourself open. If you concede an away goal or two that’s the tie over.
‘In a league game here, if you give the ball away you might get away with it. You get punished for that in Europe,’ he added.
Rovers’ head coach Stephen Bradley revealed that Brandon Miele (knee) will be out for a few weeks, while new signing Aaron Greene is not match sharp.
Dylan Watts, another new arrival, is available while Bradley must choose between 16-year-old rookie Gavin Bazunu or the vastlyexperienced Alan Mannus, 20 years older, in goal.
‘I’ve no issue playing Gavin in any game,’ said Bradley. AIK, who were watched by Stephen McPhail last weekend, signed off for their Dublin visit with a 4-1 league win away to Trelleborg to lead the Allsvenskan by a point from Hammarby. ‘They are very organised, tactically sharp and score goals from all over the park. We’ll take it to them when we can but we can’t go gung-ho because they’ll punish us,’ said Bradley. Meanwhile, Derry City manager Kenny Shiels has called on the club’s supporters to get behind the team for the visit of Dinamo Minsk to the Brandywell (6.0). At last Friday’s home game against Limerick, a knot of disgruntled Derry fans unfurled a banner which read ‘We’re not boycotting, we’re just working class’ in protest at the hike in admission for the Euro games. There is the prospect of some fans staying away this evening, which Shiels is fervently opposed to. ‘We have new players in and a very young squad who have worked so hard to get us here. I sincerely hope that every person who is able to will come to the game and back us.’
Minsk will be tough to crack as they are pushing BATE Borisov for league honours in Belarus and have lost only once in 15 league games.
Dundalk, on the other hand, are the only Airtricity League team on overseas duty this evening and should possess enough quality and Euro experience to return from Levadia Tallinn (5.0) in position to advance to the second qualifying round.
This is Dundalk’s fifth successive Euro campaign under manager Stephen Kenny, who has overseen a 10-game winning run to the summit of the Premier Division, timely for Euro combat.
Levadia, who lie second in the Estonia League, won 4-1 at home in the domestic cup last Saturday. FIXTURES: Shamrock Rovers v AIK Stockholm, Tallaght Stadium, 7.05pm. Derry City v Dinamo Minsk, Brandywell, 6pm. Levadia Talinn v Dundalk, Talinn, 5pm.