Ah, the tales of football are many under the grey skies of Dublin, and tonight, the Shamrock Rovers find themselves at a crossroads. With but a lone victory in their last six outings, spanning cups and leagues, the Rovers are a side much in need of a bit of luck, and by God, they’ll be hoping to find it when they face Celje once again.
The Slovenians, with only one win from their last five away games, are not much better off. ‘Twas just last week the two teams peppered the goal with a total of 24 shots, a lively encounter that left the Rovers rueing missed chances after a 1-0 defeat.
Now, with the Europa League hopes hanging like a faint glimmer in the fog, Stephen Bradley’s lads sit in fifth in the Irish Premier Division, trying to keep afloat in a sea that’s churning with fixtures. They’ve seen the net ripple at least twice in four of their recent matches, and they’ll be needing more of the same fire if they’re to turn the tide of their European dreams.
Over in Celje, they took their win against Shamrock and turned it into fuel, going on to trounce Radomlje 4-2 back on home soil. For the crowd that’ll gather this Thursday, an entertaining evening is all but promised.
Yet, the travelling tales of Celje are filled with woe and missed opportunities. Failing to find the back of the net in their last two jaunts abroad, and those not against slouches either — facing the likes of Slovan Bratislava and the sturdy lads of Muram — they’ve shown they can falter when away from home.
Come Thursday, as they face a Rovers team with backs against the wall and Dublin hearts pounding in their chests, the smart money might just be on a draw. It’s a match set for high drama, with neither side wanting to give way and both eager to prove their mettle. Sure, it’ll be a clash to remember, as Shamrock aims to go down swinging, guns blazing, in true fighting spirit.