Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley knows his team needs to manage games better, but has pleaded for patience from the club’s demanding fans. Rovers dominated the early exchanges at the Carlisle Grounds last Friday night as they led Bray Wanderers
Shamrock Rovers boss Stephen Bradley knows his team needs to manage games better, but has pleaded for patience from the club’s demanding fans. Rovers dominated the early exchanges at the Carlisle Grounds last Friday night as they led Bray Wanderers 1-0. But a madcap period before half-time turned the game on its head as Bray scored three times. The hosts got a fourth goal on the hour to eventually run out 4-2 winners as Rovers had substitute Michael O’Connor sent off late on. “We started really well. We had a good tempo and we moved the ball, looked dangerous, scored a goal,” said a dejected Bradley afterwards. “But then for ten minutes after we scored we made some unbelievably bad decisions and it cost us the game.” The loss means Rovers have been beaten six times in their 10 league games to date to sit a disappointing sixth in the Premier Division table. Bray's fourth win on the spin keeps them third. “No, definitely not,” agreed Bradley on it not being the start to the season Rovers wanted. “We need to turn more of these games, when we’re in the lead, tight games, into wins. “On Friday night, when we were in the lead we should first of all managed the game for ten minutes after we score. We didn’t do that whatsoever. “You can't do that in any game, anywhere. You can’t manage a game after you score like that and expect to come away with points. “I said that from day one, and again in an interview last week, it takes years to build what we want to build," added Bradley on what the club is doing both on and off the field. “The fans stayed back and applauded the players off the pitch after we’ve been beaten 4-2. It just shows they've given us the support. “We need to go and manage games better. We need to be patient as a club with our ambitions. But when you are winning games like that and in control, you shouldn’t lose them. “And we did.”
