Sligo Rovers boss John Russell piled the stress on Motherwell by insisting the Scots stay favourites to progress from tonight’s Europa Convention League conflict.
The Irishman can also be adamant his facet don't have any intention of sitting on the one-goal lead - established by former Hearts striker Aidan Keena - from the first-leg win in Lanarkshire final week, and claimed his gamers nonetheless have loads extra to show. A capability crowd of three,800 can be on the Showgrounds to see if the League of Eire outfit could make historical past by reaching the third qualifying spherical of a European competitors for the primary time.
However Russell mentioned the Scottish Premiership facet will nonetheless be anticipated to get the job accomplished: “Regardless that we bought a terrific consequence final week, Motherwell are nonetheless favourites to get by way of the tie. We’ll be approaching this as if it’s 0-0 and we’ve bought to win the match. We’ll not be sitting again and making an attempt to defend a lead. We have now a method of play and we’ll have a sport plan. We received’t be trying simply to sit down again.
“The gamers perceive they're enjoying towards a group that's perceived to have higher gamers and are enjoying in a league of a better degree than our lads are at the moment enjoying at.
“Plenty of our gamers have performed within the UK and have a degree to show. The stage is now set and it’s good for them. They confirmed in a great stadium and on a extremely good pitch final week that they’re effectively able to enjoying.”
Sligo suffered defeat to Welsh facet Bala at their very own stadium however nonetheless edged the tie on penalties having carried a 2-1 lead into the second leg. However Russell mentioned: “It’s barely completely different from the final spherical the place there was an expectation inside the nation that we have been going to beat Bala.
“It didn’t play out that means. This sport is barely completely different in that we’re the underdogs. There's a degree of expectation because it’s a soccer mad city. Everybody right here lives and breathes soccer.
“They’re hoping for a giant efficiency, we’re hoping for a giant efficiency and with the vitality they will convey to the bottom on the night time it'd give us an additional push towards a top-class opposition.”
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