Bradley: Hoops will continue with 3-5-2

Shamrock Rovers interim manager Stephen Bradley says he'll stick with his attacking philosophy for Friday's league visit to Cork City in spite of a humiliating 5-0 home defeat to the same opposition last week.

The Hoops started badly, falling behind to Sean Maguire's third-minute goal, and it got progressively worse as they went in at half-time 3-0 down and faced a five-goal deficit just after the 50-minute mark.

However, the Tallaght man – who has overseen a general upturn in fortunes since replacing Pat Fenlon in July – won't abandon the 3-5-2 formation that was so ruthlessly exploited by John Caulfield's cannier side.

“The system has worked for us. We knew that teams can cause you problems in it and we knew that before tonight.

“You can play any system you want – you can play seven at the back if you want – but if you don't start the game you're going to get beat, and we didn't start the game.

“We knew they'd come and play the way they played. Pat's played the same and Derry played the same and we dealt with that. The only reason we didn't [tonight] is because we didn't play the game at a tempo.

“If you don't start a game at a tempo and they start really high, then you're going to lose runners and people are going to run off you. You're going to give up shots on goal and that's exactly what we done.”

While the flexible formation, which allows the Hoops to play two strikers without sacrificing numbers in midfield, has resulted in more chances being created, they're now scoreless in three consecutive home games.

And the attacking impetus that sees wing-backs Simon Madden and Trevor Clarke pushed high up the pitch places a greater onus on the defensive trio to cover the width of the pitch – something City's wide men Karl Sheppard and Stephen Dooley exploited ruthlessly all night.

Nevertheless, Bradley feels the system is best-suited to the group of young players he's seeking to bring through from the club's heaving underage structure, which he oversees in his primary role.

Four of the players to take the field on Friday are eligible for the under-19s, while defenders Rob Cornwall and Sean Heaney are 20 and 21 respectively, and he cautioned that off-days are inevitable with such an inexperienced group.

“The fans are outstanding. They're five down and they're singing in the 93^rd minute, which is unbelievable. I've said since I came in that the fans have been brilliant with me and the players.

“Once they show a little passion and desire for the club, they'll back them. You're going to have off-nights, which we did, and come up against good sides and get beaten.

“It's hurts – it's not good enough – but the fans stayed with us because they know the players have given their all.”

Since taking the job on an interim basis, Bradley has remained coy about whether or not he'd like the job on a permanent basis, however his stance has softened in recent weeks as he's appeared more open to the idea.

“I was always going to do my Pro License whether I was in the first team or not. I was always going to do it – it was always an ambition of mine. I applied for the last one and I'll apply for this one.

“I'm heavily involved with the club on the youth side of things and what we're building with the academy. We'll sit down at the end of the season and talk and see where we go.”

Bradley had mixed news on the injury front as he confirmed Gary Shaw and Brandon Miele missed the game after picking up minor hamstring and groin injuries during the week.

Both could return for the grudge match at Turners Cross on Friday, while Craig Hyland and long-term injury victim Evan Osam are also nearing full fitness.