‘Hopefully now we get a big crowd in Tallaght next week’

IT’S all to play for in the Champions League first qualifying round for Shamrock Rovers as they played out a scoreless draw with Vikingur Reykjavik in Iceland on Tuesday evening.

Stephen Bradley’s men had a number of chances to win the match but in the end, they had to dig deep as they had Darragh Nugent sent off for a second yellow card in the 81st minute.

The crucial second leg takes place in Tallaght Stadium next Tuesday with manager Bradley saying “hopefully now we get a big crowd in Tallaght next week”.

The home side were coming into this match 12 games unbeaten, but the Hoops held firm and put in a well-disciplined performance.

Rovers created chances in the early stages with Roberto Lopes heading wide following a cross from Dylan Watts.

The Hoops stood their ground after this as Vikingur pushed forward but they were forced to strike from distance which was dealt with by the defence.

Nugent had half an opportunity on the restart after a long ball from Watts put him through, but the danger was cleared by the hosts defence.

Substitute Johnny Kenny almost made the breakthrough when he made a good break down the left and he narrowly missed the Vikingur net.

Kenny had another chance towards the end as did Vikingur, but Rovers will be satisfied with the draw and taking the match back to Tallaght.

“Hopefully now we get a big crowd in Tallaght next week and make it really difficult for these to come and play, have a real go and go and win the tie,” Stephen Bradley told the club’s website after the draw on Tuesday.

“I was really happy with the performance, I think the players were really disciplined in how they played.

“I thought they were really good, they worked really hard together, they fought for each other which was so important, and we should have won the game in the end when you look at the chances.

“Overall, the performance was really good, slightly different to what we are normally used to.

“They score a lot of goals, and we know what they can do.

“We didn’t give them one shot on target which was really, really pleasing.

“We defended the corners really well.

“I can’t be too harsh on the players they put in some shift tonight”.