Miele: “We’ve just got to match their energy”
SHAMROCK Rovers midfielder Brandon Miele is adamant the Hoops will have to match the intensity he expects Derry City will bring to Tallaght Stadium on Friday if they are to bag another three points tomorrow night.
The Tallaght man was on target for Stephen Bradley’s side in last Friday night’s 2-1 victory over bitter rivals Bohemians, but is eyeing up a further six points in a three-day period that could well underscore the team’s title credentials.
Derry, who themselves trounced Bohs 4-1 in their season opener at Dalymount Park, will pose a serious test for Rovers who then, on Monday, travel to a Galway United side desperate to get off the mark following defeats at the hand of Drogheda United and Cork City.
“Looking at them from last season, Derry are a good side” said Miele. “They’re an energetic team that likes to get around the pitch and we’ve got to match their energy.
“They’ve got mostly young players who like to get on the ball and they’re quick.
“It’s going to be a massive game and it would be a massive three points if we could get them especially with the quick turnaround.
“We’ve got another match on Monday against Galway and if we could get six points from that weekend it would be huge.
“But right now we’re just focusing on the Derry game” insisted the Rovers winger.
Miele was delighted to get off the mark himself in the new league campaign, telling The Echo “It’s always great to beat Bohs and great to score.
“The crowd there on the night was unreal and, coming into this after our loss to Dundalk, it was important that we got the win.
“I think everyone of us thought we deserved something from that game [against Dundalk]. Even when we went a man down we were still in their face and we really should have scraped a point.”
Underfoot conditions were difficult for both teams in Tallaght last Friday, but Miele was pleased at how the Hoops handled both that and the challenge of their rivals.
“We just had to play the conditions” he said.
“We’re a good team that likes to play football, but it’s very hard to do that when the pitch is soft and boggy like that.
“For me, as a winger, it’s hard to get on the ball and get up the pitch, but it was important that we got the first goal and we scored at a good time. It was not long after halftime.
“In fairness to them [Bohs] they didn’t drop the heads and they got that penalty near the end to make it an exciting finish” he added.
On another note, this week saw former Ireland international team captain Robbie Keane in training with Rovers in Roadstone.
Club sources insist the Tallaght man is just maintaining his fitness.
