Stephen Bradley speaking to shamrockrovers.ie ahead of Monday’s Dublin Derby against Bohemians in Tallaght (kick-off 7.45pm). Tickets remain on sale here
How do you think your team dealt with Derry City’s set up where they sat off at times and then pressed in numbers?
“I thought we dealt with it really well. After the first five or ten minutes, we worked it out. We controlled the game and penetrated when we wanted to and when we needed to. It was really good. In the second half, it was a different type of performance, more disciplined and we gave up no chances. Overall, I thought it was a really good performance.
Rovers’ goal came from Lee Grace coming out from the back to play in Johnny Kenny who crossed for Dylan Watts to score with a brilliant finish.
“Yeah, it was really good. That is an example of us penetrating them when we wanted. Once we worked it out, we had them where we wanted them. When we got to the top half of the pitch, we knew Johnny’s pace would cause them problems. Dylan had a lot to do but where he is at the moment, the level he has been playing at, you shouldn’t be surprised by that type of finish. He has been really really good.
“If you are to break it down, first assists or second assists, Dylan has been really important and has been involved in most of the good things we have done this year. I’m surprised that it was only his first league goal of the year, but he has added so much more to the team and this season he has played at a really high level. We have seen real maturity from him this year.”
You spoke on Friday after the game about your disappointment in the awarding of the late Derry penalty that allowed City to equalise. Any additional thoughts?
My view hasn’t changed. It is a really difficult one to take. I’m still really angry about it. It is clear for everyone to see what happened. The assistant referee also needs to help out the referee. They speak throughout the game and it is such a big decision. He is ten yards away and has nobody in his way. He can see it quite clearly but obviously he is not strong enough.”
You’ve been playing in Europe with VAR available for all your matches this season. Would you like to see VAR introduced in the League of Ireland?
“I think it would definitely help. There is no doubt about it. VAR would be a positive addition to the league but I’m not sure how viable it is to be honest. It would help get decisions like that on Friday correct.”
Bohs come into the game unbeaten in three against Rovers but lost 1-0 on Friday night at home. Will those results factor into Monday’s match?
“Regardless of where Bohs are, it doesn’t concern us. It is about us focusing on what we do, focus on our performance level and make sure our mentality is right and when our chances come, which they always do, we have to make sure we take them.
“We are hurting from Friday as we feel we should have three points. We need to try and go and perform as we did on Friday in Derry and like we did on Monday in Galway (winning 2-1) or in the first half in Dalymount Park when we should have taken our chances to kill the game. We do that and we’ll be fine. We have to focus on bringing that level of performance.”
Injury update: Rory Gaffney, Aaron McEneff and Sean Hoare are unavailable for Monday’s match.
