Alan Moore looks set to get his first European start of the summer tomorrow night at Tolka as manager Pat Fenlon seeks to establish a first-leg advantage over Steaua Bucharest ahead of what promises to be a tough return game in the Romanian capital next week.
"Alan's one of our most experienced players, obviously he's a quality player and for a game like this you want to find room for those sort of people," says Fenlon, who has selection headaches in a number of areas after last Wednesday's 4-1 defeat of Glentoran and Friday's 2-2 draw at Bray where the defending league champions had initially led by two goals.
Fenlon suggested he would stick with the 4-4-2 formation used against Glentoran. This is despite the fact the success in the opening two rounds of the Champions League qualifiers last season, when Fenlon opted to use Jason Byrne as a fifth midfielder, was achieved starting games with one striker up front.
"We'll look to be a little bit more aggressive than last year," he said yesterday. "It's the first leg and we're at home so we'll try to win the game but that doesn't mean we'll be reckless either. We need to be a bit more solid at the back because we don't want to lose the game or concede goals."
The two goals conceded against Bray have left Fenlon's side 11 points off the pace set by league leaders Cork but the manager insists his side hasn't got the credit it deserved for the more positive aspects of their game in recent weeks. "We scored six goals in the first round of this competition but still I've had people who just wanted to talk to me about the two we conceded which is a bit unfortunate."
Steaua's management, who only arrive with their team this afternoon, will take some pleasure from seeing the spells of defensive uncertainty that have afflicted Shelbourne recently. An away goal for the Romanians tomorrow would be a huge boost for them and their record in the Uefa Cup last year suggests they can score away against good quality sides although this will be their first competitive outing of the season.
"I don't think that will make too much difference because they've played six friendly games or so against good quality opposition and won most of them so I'd say they'll be in fairly good shape. I think they'll think they have the better players and that they can win the game but it'll be cat and mouse early on, they'll be cautious enough until it all settles down."
One of the things Fenlon must decide on is who to start at left back with David Crawley having lost out to newly-signed Curtis Fleming at Bray. "I may not be the most naturally gifted of players but I've always worked hard and that won't change now," said Crawley yesterday.
"At Dundalk I was guaranteed my place but I never expected that to be the case at Shelbourne so if Curtis does get in ahead of me I accept that but he'll have a real battle to keep the place."
Crawley feels, however, he still has a case for a place from the start.
"I think that if what we're in for is a fight then that's something I never shy away from. The Romanians are very good technically but you have to wonder whether they're as strong in the physical department and I think I showed last year that I can hold my own when it comes to a battle."
