A Brad Young brace and a solo strike from Danny Davies – combined with a clean sheet at the other end – ensures that The New Saints sits firmly in the driving seat ahead of the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round game against FK Dečić this coming Tuesday (July 16).
Travelling to Montenegro with a 3-0 lead from the first-leg, means that it’s the champions of Wales who will be favourites to progress in the competition.
However, as is always the case regardless of the situation, the focus and professionalism of both staff and players is such that the overriding awareness is that, as far as the tie is concerned, it’s still only half-time.
The game in Montenegro will be played at Gradski Stadion Podgorica, which is also the national stadium.
It will be a familiar venue as far as followers of the England national team are concerned, as the side played there in both 2011 and 2013 in Euro and World Cup qualifying games respectively.
Originally built in 1945, following the end of the Second World War, the stadium has undergone both a rebuild, due to fire, and several renovations over the years.
Although The New Saints are perennial qualifiers – having been on the European stage every year this century – the game on Tuesday will be just the sixth time that FK Dečić will have competed at that level.
With defeats (0-1, 1-2) against Kosovo’s FC Drita and a draw and loss versus FC Dinamo Minsk (1-1, 1-2) – plus, of course, last week’s 3-0 against The New Saints at Park Hall – Milorad Pekovic will be looking for his side to turn the corner as far as UEFA competition results are concerned.
Ahead of the game, there will be a press conference with Craig Harrison, which will be posted on both our website and social media channels in due course.
Kick-off in Montenegro is 8.00 p.m. (UK time) and you can follow the action via TNS Radio, which will be broadcast via the club’s website (home page) and Facebook page.
The officials are from Turkey and are as follows: Atilla Karaoglan (referee), Ceyhun Sesigüzel and Cevdet Komurcuoglu (assistant referees). Çagdas Altay is the fourth official.
