Dundalk head coach Vinny Perth has called on his side to be brave as they bid to turn things around against Slovan Bratislava in Tallaght Stadium tonight.

Dávid Holman’s goal four minutes from the end has left Dundalk with it all to do in Tallaght next Tuesday if they are to keep their Europa League dreams alive.

James Rogers Dundalk head coach Vinny Perth believes it will be important to score when his side face Slovan Bratislava tonight.

Shamrock Rovers will hope to make the third qualifying round of the Europa League this evening.

Dundalk are out of the Champions League.

Jamie McGrath hopes his record against sides from Azerbaijan continues when their national champions, Qarabag, face Dundalk in the Champios League tomorrow night.

Dundalk will face a trip to Albania or Azerbaijan in the second qualifying round of the Champions League, should they defeat Riga FC.

They won the Latvian league-and-cup double in 2018, and continue to lead the league this season - much like Dundalk in the League of Ireland.

Rodgers' Celtic will meet Roberto Mancini's Zenit St Petersburg this evening.

Hungary 2 Norway 1 (Hungary win 3-1 on agg): Hungary booked a return to major tournament football for the first time in 30 years with a 3-1 aggregate victory over Norway in their Euro 2016 qualifying play-off last night.

Is there a handy Grexit-style word out there to sum up Irish football’s departure from Europe this week?

SK Slovan Bratislava have vowed to avoid getting caught cold again when they try to secure a Europa League third round spot against UCD at the Belfield Bowl (6pm).

Ireland manager Martin O’Neill designated it the “tie of the round” yesterday after he helped pair Cork City and St Patrick’s Athletic in the draw for the Third Round of the FAI Cup.

Slovan Bratislava 1 UCD 0<br>There was unkind, late heartbreak for UCD in Slovakia as they came within minutes of holding Slovan Bratislava to a remarkable scoreless draw.

UCD joined Shamrock Rovers last night as the Irish representatives in the second round of the Europa League, spiking their cash-flow in the process.

F91 Dudelange 2 UCD 1 (Agg: 2-2 - UCD win on away goals)

Although delighted that the club are back in Europe for the first time since 2008, Cork City boss John Caulfield admits to mixed feelings about drawing Iceland’s KR Reykjavik in the Europa League.

Football managers are either wizards or muggles.

Africa Cup of Nations preview

UEFA has opened disciplinary proceedings against Slovan Bratislava and Sparta Prague after last Thursday’s Europa League match in Slovakia was interrupted for half an hour by clashes between supporters.

Everton may be returning to European football in the continent’s secondary competition, but they have been drawn in a group worthy of the Champions League, according to one of the men plotting their downfall.

Tottenham will be looking to replicate local rivals Arsenal’s recent success against Besiktas after being paired with the Turkish side in Group C of the Europa League.

Celtic 0 Legia Warsaw 2 (Aggregate 1- 6)

St Patrick’s Athletic fans face a trip to Poland as they were drawn against Legia Warsaw in the Second Qualifying round of the Champions League today.

IN difficult times when the outlook seems grim you can usually rely on English football journalists for some comic relief.

KENWYNE JONES last night expressed his pride after his late header secured Stoke the point they needed against Dynamo Kiev to secure a place in the Europa League knockout stages.

Vladimir Weiss will not rely on his enviable record against Italians as he attempts to guide Slovakia past the Republic of Ireland tomorrow night.

Shamrock Rovers' chairman Jonathan Roche has said the Tottenham Europa League fixtures were "a dream come true" for the fans.

Irish giantkillers Shamrock Rovers have landed a plum tie against Premier League stars Tottenham in the Europa League group stage draw today.

DANIEL MAJSTOROVIC saw red as 10-man Celtic crashed out of the Europa League with a depressing play-off second leg defeat against Swiss side Sion at the Stade de Tourbillon.

Shamrock Rovers have been drawn against Flora Tallinn of Estonia in the Champions League First and Second Qualifying Round draw today.

ASTON VILLA caretaker manager Kevin MacDonald hailed the impact of his young guns on a night when they kept their Europa League hopes alive.

HARRY REDKNAPP was yesterday taking nothing for granted after Tottenham were handed the easiest possible route to the Champions League proper.

Celtic face a daunting trip to Russia to begin their Champions League campaign after they were drawn against Dinamo Moscow in the third round of qualifying today.

CLINTON MORRISON admitted last night that his omission from the Republic of Ireland squad has left him bitter.

THE SLOVAK Football Federation has confirmed that the Euro 2008 qualifying game between Slovakia and the Republic of Ireland on Saturday September 8 will take place in Bratislava.

MANCHESTER UNITED manager Alex Ferguson has told his former club captain Roy Keane he will need to become more “tolerant” if he is to succeed as a manager.

FORMER Czechoslovakia coach Jozef Venglos says the current Czech side have many qualities of the team he helped guide to the 1976 European Championship title.

Blackburn are hopeful of bringing the long-running Vratislav Gresko signing saga to a successful conclusion on Friday, following the granting of a work permit to the Slovakian defender today.

Blackburn have been linked with a move for Slovakian international striker Robert Vittek.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce has cooled his interest in signing Slovan Bratislava striker Robert Vittek – at least for the time being.

Birmingham manager Steve Bruce today revealed he is “close” to making Poland captain Piotr Swierczewski his fifth signing since the transfer window opened on January 1.