"Job is only half done", says Bradley

Shamrock Rovers manager Stephen Bradley says the Hoops will treat Thursday's Europa League tie against Stjarnan at the Tallaght Stadium "as if the score is goalless".

Gary Shaw scored the only goal of the game, as Rovers beat the Icelandic side 1-0 in last Thursday's Europa League first qualifying round, first leg at the Samsungvollur.

The sides meet again in the return leg on Thursday, a match that will be shown live in Ireland on eir sport 1 [kick off 20.00, coverage starts at 19.30], but Bradley has warned his young Rovers' side that the momentum in European ties can quickly change.

"We would be very naive and silly if we assumed the job was done," Bradley told eir sport.

"I have played enough games in Europe to know that they will come and have a right go tomorrow.

"They might even try and change the system, which they tried once or twice over there.

"We know it is a job only half done, that we need to go and win the game, and that is how we will approach it.

"We need to approach the game as if the score is goalless."

Bradley says his coaching team, which includes former Ireland internationals Damien Duff and Stephen McPhail, will play an important role in instructing the players on how to close out a European tie. 

First-team coach Duff played for Chelsea in the Champions League, scoring for Jose Mourinho's side in a 4-2 win over Barcelona in March 2005, while Rovers' sporting director McPhail was part of the Leeds side that reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001.

"I think it is important that we have staff around who have played in European competition at different levels," he continued.

"They can go to speak to the players, either individually or as a unit, to explain what to expect."

Rovers will meet Czech side Mlada Boleslav in the Europa League second qualifying round should they progress on Thursday night.

Images: Inpho/ Oisin Keniry

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