SENTINELCELTS

Morning, all.

Tonight is a big night for us, and no mistake. We take a three goal lead to Austria to face their champions, LASK Linz. I mention that they are champions to remind us all that this is no diddy team we are facing, but we already know that from the first leg last week. 

We scored three wonderful goals, but they could have taken the lead after only a few seconds with an absolute screamer of their own. It was far from the only time they caused us concern, including another goal, like that one correctly chalked off for offside. I wouldn’t go as far as their coach did after the game and say that they were the better side, but we could hardly have grumbled had our advantage been less than three. 

There seems to be a school of thought amongst our fans that while this tie isn’t over, another goal from us should kill it. Well, if there is a genuine concern that they can score three, perhaps we should also be worried that they can score four-and the reported absence from training of Trusty does little to allay those fears! I well remember our run to Seville when we took a two goal lead to Stuttgart and quickly scored another two. That four goal advantage should have had us on easy street, but we lost three goals and were hanging on grimly at the end. 

It’s football, and we all know that there are no certainties!

I expect that the management team will go with the same starting XI as last week, though we may be forced to call on Scales as a replacement for Trusty. We will have to be ready for a full-on onslaught right from the off, and that means our midfield will have to work overtime, while our attacking line will be our first line of defence. It won’t be a night for passengers, that’s for sure. It will take 100% commitment and 100% concentration, and all the while being on the lookout for a chance at a break. 

That said, and having given myself the fear even writing this short article, I’m looking forward to the game. We would have been delighted a week ago at the position we are in now, and if I’m honest, I’ll settle for any result which sees us in the group stages of the top competition. I don’t care if tonight is another classic, one which we will be talking about for years to come, or an updated version of The Great Escape. Just as long as it has a happier ending. So you’ll pardon me if I don’t say-“Good luck!”

<><><><><><>
Above article by BMCUWP