36 WE HAVE DUN’ A WHOLE LOT RIGHT

ZAK BRADSHAW insists Dundalk are in a false position ahead of today’s Louth derby.

The Londoner, who grew up a Tottenham fan, has earned his spurs in a different white shirt this season, and picked up the first man of the match award of his Dundalk career on Friday.

The defender — as home at left-back as he is at centre-half — is not frustrated by Dundalk’s slow start to the season and feels they have turned a corner since Noel King came in as boss.

Four points from two games — the latest point coming against league leaders Shelbourne — has boosted morale in the Lilywhite dressingroom.

Now they are hoping to build on that against Drogheda in today’s Louth derby.

Award

Bradshaw said: “I am buzzing after getting the man of the match award. It is my first of the season, a special thing to get, especially as it was a home game. “That was our fifth clean sheet at home on Friday and you wouldn’t think a team that has five clean sheets at home would be able to keep the team that is top of the league scoreless.

“Nor would you think the bottom of the league team would dominate the top-of-the-league side. But we had 12 shots on goal on Friday, they had three.”

Fans

Next is Drogheda at 1pm today.

Bradshaw said: “I played in two big derbies when I was on loan to non-league teams, the Essex derby and the one between Woking and Aldershot. There were 7,000 fans at those games.

“But this feels bigger because even when we go for a coffee in Dundalk, people nudge us in the cafe, and say stuff like, ‘oh, the derby is in two weeks’ time’.

“I totally get it. I am from north London. I am a Tottenham fan, so I know what a derby means to fans.”

Unluckily for both Bradshaw and Dundalk, he is unavailable for today’s match with suspension.

“Drogheda, indeed every side I have played against this season, are a good team. The quality is so much better here than the English nonLeague.”