Fenton promising a ‘little more aggression’

SHELBOURNE manager Pat Fenlon has hinted he will retain a 4-4-2 formation for tomorrow night’s Champions League qualifier against Steaua Bucharest in Dublin, as his team goes in search of a positive result to bring to Romania for the second leg.

During their heady European campaign last summer Shelbourne favoured a lone man upfront, but the signs are the blossoming partnership of Glen Crowe and Jason Byrne will be given a chance to put the Steaua defence under pressure at Tolka Park.

"We're going to be a little bit more aggressive than last year," says Fenlon. "We're at home, it's the first leg so we'll try to be a little bit more aggressive."

With the exception of former Waterford player/manager Alan Reynolds who is still only doing light training, Fenlon should have everyone available for the game but he has yet to make up his mind on whether there will be a starting place in midfield for former Middlesbrough and Irish international Alan Moore, who is now fully recovered from injury.

But while determined to go for the win at Tolka Park, Fenlon is also conscious of the need to keep things tight at the back in the first leg.

"We don't want to lose the game or concede goals," he says. "It's important that we're defensively sound as well as trying to nick a goal. If we can go to Romania with some sort of result and the tie alive, I'll be happy."

Winger Richie Baker agrees.

"If we leave here with a win, we'll be laughing but even 0-0 would be nice," he says. "You're always in the tie if you get a draw in the first game but 1-0 would be super going over there."

Full back David Crawley is relishing the prospect of another big European night at Tolka, after last year's blockbuster against Hajduk Split.

"It's going to be a good occasion," he says. "We know Steaua are going to be tough. They are probably one of the best or at least best-known teams across Europe. Pat and (assistant manager) Eamonn (Collins) are saying that they are a wee bit better than

Hajduk but we have to stand up and be counted. It is 11 against 11. They are only human beings at the end of the day.

"We tend to keep it tight at the back, although we have been conceding sloppy goals lately. You have Glen (Crowe) and Jason (Byrne) upfront and, probably, Richie (Baker) and

Ollie (Cahill) on the wings so you are always going to create chances. If we keep it tight at the back, then we might sneak one and get a good result to bring over to Romania.

"We are not doing too well in the league now but this is different. This is a European game on television and we can show everyone how good Shelbourne are," he said.

And the defender offered a reminder about the scale of the club's ambitions in Europe.

"We have a three-year plan here," he says. "Our aim is to get into the Champions League within three years. Hopefully, fingers crossed, we will."

Shels' chief scout Dave Henderson has been to Bucharest to see Steaua in a pre-season friendly but videos he expected to get from the club failed to materialise. Pat Fenlon says the opposition have not been particularly helpful in providing information but insists his team will still be well prepared for the tough task ahead.

The Romanian champions are only due to arrive in Dublin today for a game which will mark the competitive debut of their new manager Oleg Protasov who attended Shelbourne's victory over Glentoran in Tolka Park last week.

Irish fans will remember Protasov as the man who scored for the Soviet Union against the Republic in a 1-1 draw in Euro 88, canceling out Ronnie Whelan's spectacular opening goal for Jack Charlton's team.