St Pat's v Besiktas preview: Saints eyeing ‘one of great victories in Irish football history' against Turkish giants
Like not allowing himself or his players to get caught up in the hype or drawn too closely to the star names of the clubs and players in front of them, where Irish footballers can freeze on the big stage due to the immense stature of their opponents.
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The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Stephen Bradley admits Shamrock Rovers ‘well below levels' in Conference League loss to Ballkani as he promises response
Rovers will be boosted by the return of a big name for the second leg 'VERY POOR' Stephen Bradley admits Shamrock Rovers 'well below levels' in Conference League loss to Ballkani as he promises response STEPHEN BRADLEY can't recall the last time Shamrock Rovers were as bad as they were in the first-half of their Conference League qualifier Ballkani. But he insisted the Hoops will remember exactly who they are when they meet again in the second leg in Tallaght next Thursday. Advertisement 2 Stephen Bradley admitted Shamrock Rovers were poor in the first-half against Ballkani Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile 2 Shamrock Rovers lost 1-0 in their Conference League qualifier first leg Credit: Nikola Krstic/Sportsfile The League of Ireland leaders slipped to a 1-0 loss in Kosovo on Thursday night following a Sunday Adetunji goal in the second-half. Josh Honohan had a last minute chance to equalise from a header that was saved by goalkeeper Adnan Golubovic. Rovers boss Bradley believes much of the challenge was done in a first-half that, while ending goalless, was largely dominated by the Kosovans. He lamented: "We were poor, to be fair. We were poor in the first half in every aspect. Advertisement "Second-half we were slightly better but, overall, it was levels below what we have been domestically and in Europe for quite some time. "The positive is that we are still in the game. It is 1-0 and we know we will be a lot better next week in Tallaght. "It was very unlike us in every aspect. Sometimes it happens. We will need to, like I said, assess everything, and try to understand why. "The positive is that we are right in the game and we know we will be better next week. Advertisement "The main thing for us next week will be to perform to our levels. Whatever happens with the result happens. "You can't guarantee everything but what we can be is better than we were tonight and I am sure we will be. Shamrock Rovers snap up Northern Ireland Under-21s goal-getter as Stephen Bradley gives exciting verdict "I can't remember the last European game that we were off like that in the first-half and we were off it but, as I said, we have to make sure that we perform and get back to our levels. "I have no doubt that we have enough in the group to win the game and win the tie." Advertisement Both of Rovers' best chances on the night came from set piece deliveries from Dylan Watts. In the first-half, he found the head of Honohan who was denied by Golubovic in a moment that was repeated in the second-half. Their best opening from play came when Danny Mandroiu failed to divert a Honohan cross on target. And Bradley believes those few possibilities offer promise going into the second leg in Tallaght. Advertisement He added: "The positives out of the game is the character and the togetherness that the group showed to stay in the game, especially in that first half, and they did that very well. "We will take it back to Tallaght." Rovers will be boosted by the likely return of Graham Burke for the second leg after he missed Thursday night due to injury.
The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
St Pat's journey in Europa Conference League all-but over as Tammy Abraham hat-trick leads Besiktas to hammering
Besiktas played like a team full of internationals and still smarting at their Europa League elimination ST PAT'S 1-4 BESIKTAS St Pat's journey in Europa Conference League all-but over as Tammy Abraham hat-trick leads Besiktas to hammering SHELS sprung a shock on Wednesday but St Patrick's Athletic were just shelshocked on Thursday. The League of Ireland may punch above its weight in European competition - but sometimes the gap is just too big as Besiktas, Tammy Abraham and co proved on Thursday night. Advertisement 2 St Patrick's Athletic were hammered by Besiktas 2 Tammy Abraham scored a hat-trick Credit: Stephen McCarthy/Sportsfile Shelbourne's superb victory over Croatians Rijeka in the Europa League on Wednesday night was a great night for the league and showed how Irish sides can compete at the top level. That could have given St Patrick's Athletic - who provided enough of their own great results over the years - confidence, and then Besiktas destroyed them in in the first half. Abraham scored a first half hat-trick as the Turks - managed by Ole Gunnar Solskjaer scored four - and it could have been more. In the press box, the stats were being checked to see what were the heaviest home defeats for League of Ireland sides in Europe. Advertisement It was a fair reflection on the game too as Besiktas played like a team full of internationals and still smarting at their Europa League elimination by Shakhtar Donetsk last week because they host the final this season. Yet whether they were guilty of easing off after the break or Stephen Kenny's switch to a back five after the break, the Saints gave as good as they got and won the second half. Simon Power scored early while Mason Melia and Chris Forrester also had chances. But in truth, Besikitas never looked worried that the Saints were about to produce a miracle comeback. Advertisement Yet did give many of the 7,821 in attendance something to cheer and means the Saints head to Istanbul next week knowing an early goal will give the Turks a scare. Still, the Turks will expect to run out in Istanbul with the same intensity they showed in the first half and win easily. Spurs v West Ham fan battle: Moyes was 'easily' better than Poch! | Stoppage Time The rout started after just eight minutes when one ball sent Ernest Muci clear on the right and his cut back found Portuguese playmaker Rafa Silva. He had plenty of time but instantly flicked the ball behind him to left winger Joao Mario whose first time shot took a deflection off Joe Redmond and beyond Joe Anang. Advertisement If the Saints could feel hard done by for the first finish, there was no sympathy when the second was belted in by Abraham on 15 minutes. Again, the attack came down the right as Jonas Svensson and he dinked in a cross that was just within Anang's reach. But it was not close enough for the Saints' goalkeeper to grasp as he could only help the ball onto the loitering Abraham's chest before the England man belted it over the line. Abraham's second arrived on 23 minutes when he finished with a cool dink beyond Anang after proving too strong for Tom Grivosti. Advertisement And he completed his hat-trick from the penalty spot on 43 minutes after he was tripped by Jamie Lennon inside the box. But in truth, Besiktas could have been even more comfortably in front in the first half as Anang also made stops from Rafa Silva, Orkun Kokcu and Demir Ege Tiknaz. Sure, all the saves were routine. But that all three efforts were from central areas inside the penalty area from crosses highlighted the ease at which St Pat's were were torn apart. The Saints did have the ball in the net once in the first half though the whistle had gone for a foul by Redmond long beforehand with what was one of the few times they threatened. Advertisement More often than not, the hosts could not make an impact on the game. And when they did get into attacking positions, their crossing was poor with Mason Melia - namechecked by Solskjaer as a threat beforehand - not given any sight of goal. But boss Stephen Kenny made changes at half-time bringing on Luke Turner and Axel Sjoberg and switching to a back five. And it worked instantly as the Saints pulled a goal back when McClelland's ball down the line sent Power sprinting clear on the left. Advertisement Power is the fastest player in the League of Ireland and Besiktas had no defender who could keep up with him as he coolly beat goalkeeper Merk Gunok at his near post. That lifted the mood among the home fans and the home side as St Pat's then began playing with much more purpose than at any point in the first half. And they could have pulled a second goal back on 55 minutes when Merk Gunok was relieved Melia shot straight at him from ten-yards when he was picked out by Sjoberg. Late on, Forrester also had a shot saved after a quick free kick put him through though Besikitas looked composed as substitute Keny Arroyo had a late shot cleared off the line. Advertisement SUN STAR MAN Tammy Abraham (Besiktas) ST PATRICK'S ATHLETIC: Anang 5; McLaughlin 5, Redmond 6, Grivosti 4 (Turner ht, 6), McClelland 5; Forrester 6 (Baggley 82, 6), Lennon 5; Mulraney 4 (Sjoberg ht, 6), Leavy 6 (Carty 82, 6), Power 6; Melia 6 (Kavanagh 88, 6) BESIKTAS: Mert Gunok 7; Svensson 7 (Tayfur Bingol ht, 6), Paulista 7, Emirhan Topcu 7, Jurasek 7 (Talha Sanuc 90, 6); Ege Tiknaz 7 (Kartal Yilmaz 76, 6), Orkun Kokcu 8 (Hadziahmetovic 90, 6); Muci 8 (Arroyo 59, 6), Rafa Silva 8, Mario 7; Abraham 9. Advertisement REFEREE: D Smajc (Slovenia) 6.
Irish Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Irish Daily Mirror
Stephen Bradley insists Rovers can turn tie around at Tallaght next week
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley was fiercely critical of his team's first-half showing in Kosovo, but insists his side have what it takes to turn around the tie after last Thursday's 1-0 loss to Ballkani. Rovers are on the brink of elimination from the Conference league after tonight's single goal defeat, a defeat which could have been much worse as the Hoops turned in a performance that Bradley deemed miles off the level that is required. "Look, I think first-half we were poor, to be fair. We were poor first-half in every aspect," said a disappointed Bradley after the game. "Second-half we were slightly better, but overall it was levels below what we have been domestically and in Europe for quite some time. "The positive is that we're still in the game. It's one nil, and we know we'll be a lot better next week in Tallaght." From the get-go, the Hoops didn't look anywhere near their best on Thursday evening. Over the course of the 90 minutes, they mustered just two efforts on target, both Josh Honahan headers from corners, and failed to create a chance from open play. "We have to have a look at it as a group, staff, players, we have to have a look and we will. Very unlike us in every aspect. Sometimes it happens," Bradley said when asked whether he could put his finger on the reason for the flat performance, "We'll need to assess everything and try understand why. "The main thing for us next week will be to perform to our levels whatever happens, if the result happens, you can't guarantee that. "But what we can be is better than what we were tonight, and I'm sure we will be. Like I said - I can't remember the last European game that we were off it like that in the first-half. And we were off it." Still, Bradley is convinced his team have what it takes to turn the tie around and keep Conference League groups stage qualification hopes alive. "We just got to make sure next week that we perform and we get back to our levels and I've no doubt we have enough within the group to go and win the game and win the tie."
