'We might be out of it before we know it' - Yet another slow start has Hoops nervous

Stephen Bradley's side have lost two of their first three and face dangerous St Pat's knowing they need a kickstart to campaign

SHORT OF OPTIONS: Rory Gaffney of Shamrock Rovers reacts after a missed chance during the SSE Airtricity Men's Premier Division match between Sligo Rovers and Shamrock Rovers at The Showgrounds in Sligo. Pic: Piaras Ó Mídheach/Sportsfile

Slow starts are a habit Shamrock Rovers want rid of.

They will go down in history as one of the league’s great teams from winning four titles on the bounce but sluggishness was eventually punished last year by Damien Duff’s Shelbourne.

Just two wins from their opening seven games were secured in the 2022 season. Over the same early stretch in 2023, they didn’t taste victory once but still retained their trophy. Last year, it took until their fifth match – a late win at Galway United – for their winless run to end.

On Friday they host many people’s tip for the title, St Patrick’s Athletic, having again failed to win in their first three matches. Two defeats over the first three games feels ominous when they lost only nine during the 36-match series. They still came up short of Shels by two points – and the Reds have already amassed a seven-point buffer to the Hoops.

“Over the last few years, we have had some slow starts but were able to go on a run and get back into the title race,” noted midfielder Dylan Watts. “But if we don't start picking up points quickly, we might be out of it before we know it. If you told us we'd have one point after three games, we'd obviously be disappointed.

“It's not ideal to be honest that we've started this way in the last few years. We know we need to do better.” 

 His manager Stephen Bradley concurs, albeit he isn’t agonising over the fears of last year. 

"I think it’s comparing night and day,” he affirmed, “I genuinely felt our identity wasn’t there in the first part of the domestic season last year. I knew we had to change at the end of the season regardless of how the season finished and I feel a different sense of energy of where they players in their head. It’s the basics – like conceding twice from set-pieces in Sligo on Monday - that are costing us. Once we tidy up there, we’re in a really good place.” 

This encounter sees 16-year-old sensation Michael Noonan line up against the club he quit in the off-season. Johnny Kenny’s departure back to Celtic after a loan spell, allied to the Hoops failing to headhunt an experienced replacement, has placed the onus on the teen to lead the line.

“Connections take time to develop but we can help Michael by showing him video analysis,” Bradley said about assimilating the youngster into his unit.

“It probably took the eighth game for Johnny (Kenny) to get that – we didn’t see Johnny’s level until the second year – and Johnny was older than Michael. You can see it slowly getting there but it takes time and you can’t force or rush that.

“It’s something that’s expected and we understand. Much like Matt Healy building with the back three, it takes time to know where to stand and not to.

“If people have watched us in detail, they’ve noticed we’ve slightly adjusted how we play. The first four games of the year, including Europe, have allowed that to bed in but we haven’t lost games due to that.” 

St Pat’s head to Tallaght having stitched together back-to-back victories together at home to Sligo Rovers and Derry City.

“Pat’s have brought in Simon Power and Conor Carty but they haven’t really featured yet,” said Bradley about their opponents. “They haven’t changed on the attacking front. Jake Mulraney, Zack Elbouzedi, Mason Melia and Aidan Keena are the attackers from last year who are still there and we know about.

“You’d imagine it will be pretty similar because you can see what way Stephen Kenny wants them to play.”