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With no weekend league game since the Champions League qualifying round 0-0 draw away at Vikingur Reykjavik, having had time to see the game back, how do you reflect on that night’s work last Tuesday?

“I thought the large majority of it was really good. We gave up maybe one really clear-cut chance in the game, defended really well, and in the end, attacked well. Then with Johnny Kenny, we could’ve won the game so overall it was a really good performance.”

Vikingur hit our post early on after an excellent close-range save by Leon Pohls. That was probably their only clear-cut chance in the game. Did Vikingur possibly underestimate our set-up or team ethic and spirit as we really looked quite comfortable for the most part in the game?

“I’m not sure to be honest, I can’t say what their frame of mind was or what they were thinking. We knew how they would set up. Their team selection suggested that they felt they could win the game. They went with all their attacking players which was interesting. But I thought we dealt with it really well, and other than that early chance when Leon made that save, I can’t remember giving up anything else. They had a lot of corners and set-plays, which we dealt with really well and in the end we should probably win the game.”

The only blot on the copybook were two really poor yellow cards given by the referee to Darragh Nugent who’ll miss the second leg. Darragh must’ve shared most peoples’ bemusement at both decisions.

“I thought they were awful when you watch it back. For the first one, how the referee even gives a free kick, never mind a booking, is incredible. Darragh doesn’t touch their guy, their bodies come together, but his feet don’t touch him. So it’s really poor at that level, but to be honest I thought the ref was poor all night. So I thought both yellow cards were really soft.”

Despite many corners and set pieces for Vikingur, the introduction of Johnny Kenny really caused them considerable panic and while we’re all disappointed as he is himself that Johnny missed either of those chances, he showed he can and will have a huge impact on their approach to the second leg with what he showed last Tuesday and all season.

“One of Johnny’s biggest strengths is his mentality in terms of his willingness to miss chances. That’s really important for a centre forward, to have that bravery. If you put Johnny in that situation tomorrow again, he scores and that’s the beauty of him. When he came on, he showed how dangerous he is and has been all year. For both chances, he gives yards and still gets there. So we know what Johnny is capable of, and we have to accept at times he’ll miss chances. That’s part and parcel of the game.”

The lads must have been really buzzing all week in training. The collective shift by everyone was notable and we really looked like we were getting “back to ourselves” as you alluded to after the Dundalk win.

“You could see against Dundalk that we were getting our identity back, could see a real togetherness, a real hunger to work for each other, which was really important.”

This will be the first European game with all four stands at Tallaght Stadium in place. What message have you for everyone, weekly Rovers fans and other interested football fans who’ll be in attendance tomorrow night?

“We’re going to need every fan we can get. We know we’re against a good side and how important these games are for Irish clubs and the league going forward. So all the support we have will be really important. We know European nights in Tallaght are special, when our fans show up in their numbers, it can be a very uncomfortable place for away teams to come and play. That’s what we need tomorrow night, for everyone to show up, be loud and make it uncomfortable for Vikingur.”

Other than Darragh Nugent, who remains unavailable for the second leg?

Of those missing last week, Lee Grace is back. It’s just a bit early for the others, Graham Burke, Markus Poom, Aaron McEneff and Rory Gaffney. We’re hoping next Friday or next week for those lads. But having Lee back is good.”