‘We’ve got to score’
HITTING the target in their Europa League opening round first leg against AIK is a must for Shamrock Rovers, according to Hoops midfielder Greg Bolger.
Stephen Bradley’s side welcome the Swedish giants to Tallaght Stadium tonight in what they hope will be the start of a good run in the competition.
Shamrock Rovers midfielder Greg Bolger has stressed the importance of taking the game to Europa League opponents AIK
Yet if they are to make it past the Solna side who finished second in the Allsevnskan last season, Bolger insists they need to have something to take into the return leg.
“We’ve got to score and have something to take away with us,” Bolger told The Echo. “We’ve got to take advantage of playing at home.
“We know they’ll have a lot of the ball, but we really have to try and take the game to them while, at the same time, being clever at the back and not leaking any goals.
“They’re a quality side and we need to respect them, but hopefully all our lads can give eight, nine ten [rated] performances and get us through this.
“It’s a huge couple of games for the club financially and it’s great experience for the younger lads, so hopefully everyone, even the lads coming off the bench, can give a big performance,” he said.
Rovers will be coming into this match bolstered by their recent form on the domestic front that has seen them bag ten points in the last four games which included a win against Derry and a scoreless draw away to defending champions Cork City.
Confidence is high
“The confidence is high in the team,” insisted Bolger. “We’ve won three and drawn one of our last four matches.
“The point down in Cork was huge. It was their first points dropped at home.
“We looking up the table, not down it. We want to be trying to catch Waterford and hopefully they’ll drop a few more points, but right now we just want to be focusing on these two big [European] games,” he stressed.
Rovers managed to hold on to fourth place in the Airtricity League Premier Division on Friday after holding Cork.
And the Hoops have young goalkeeper Gavin Bazuna to thank for helping them salvage that very important point at Turners Cross.
Indeed the 16-year-old netminder pulled off a string of fine saves, including one from Kieran Sadlier’s penalty.
The day after saw a Rovers second string side lose out 7-0 to Celtic in a friendly in Tallaght.
Moussa Dembele, Odsonne Edouard, Callum McGregor, Scott Sinclair and Lewis Morgan were on the scoresheet for the Scottish champions.
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