TOUGH SPART

Rovers open with heavy defeat in Prague as ruthless hosts make Bradley's Hoops pay for their mistakes

- BY PAUL O'HEHIR

REPEATED ventures into Europe have helped Shamrock Rovers become savvy operators at this level.

But now and again they are served searing reminders that it’s still an unforgiving school of hard knocks - and this was one of those chastening nights.

Defensive set-piece frailties were laid bare in Prague last summer during the Champions League qualifier that Sparta won 4-2.

And the concession of soft goals haunted them again as Sparta exposed Stephen Bradley's men.

The Hoops boss reckons seven points over the six league phase games should be enough to progress to the knockout stages for the second season running.

He is targeting more than that, despite this result.

But picking up anything here was always going to be a tall order and not even Danny Mandroiu’s late consolation was going to change that.