Shropshire Star

Boss urges TNS to finish the job tonight

Manager Craig Harrison is backing The New Saints to finish the job against Torshavn in tonight's Champions League first qualifying round tie at Park Hall.

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The Welsh Premier high-flyers are in pole position after winning 2-1 in the first leg in a rain-drenched Faroe Islands.

It was their first victory in the Champions League since 2011 and their first away win in the competition.

It gives the Saints a significant advantage for the second leg at Park Hall (7pm) and the Welsh domestic treble winners will fancy themselves to advance to the next round.

Should they progress, they will face Hungarian side Videoton in the second qualifying round.

In all, TNS spent five days in the Faroe Islands due to a shortage of flights and travelling options, but the trip was certainly worthwhile.

However, despite feeling confident, Harrison knows his full strength side cannot take anything for granted.

He said: "We thoroughly deserved the win last week and I am confident we can now progress after picking up a great result away from home.

"Despite that, we are only half way there so we need to maintain that focus. To go away from home in Europe is always difficult, so to get a win was magnificent.

"It was an open game – a bit too open for my liking sometimes as the away team – but we had another two or three opportunities to maybe score more goals.

"It was wet, but well worth the soaking. We're now going into the home leg to win it.

"Obviously, they have got to come out and have to score, but I'd back us to score at least one goal at home, which would put us in a great position.

"We've got a lot of pace and quality in our team and we're very good on the counter-attack."

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