Uefa Europa Conference League second qualifying round, second leg
Rosenborg (2) v Crusaders (2) (Thursday, 6pm)
Trondheim in August. Ask Stephen Baxter if Norway’s fourth largest city is the location he thought he would be spending his summer holidays in, the definitive answer would be “no”. However, the Crusaders’ boss would rather be nowhere else on a Thursday evening, as his side gun for glory in the second leg of the UEFA Europa Conference League second round of qualifying against Rosenborg.
With the tie evenly poised after last week’s 2-2 draw at Seaview, the Norwegians will enter the game as favourites. However, the north Belfast side will take a huge boost of confidence from their performance last Thursday evening, where they could have won the game late on and had Rosenborg clinging on for dear life.
“I think it was probably the best European performance that I’ve seen from our club, and we have had a lot of European games” said Baxter.
“We had a few real good chances to win it and really had them on the ropes at times. But, it finished all square and we gave ourselves the opportunity to go out there and have an outside chance”.
Despite the result, the manager knows that the odds are stacked against his side when they play the return leg at the 21,500 capacity Lerkendal Stadion. When asked if his side are in the mix for a result in Norway he smiles.
“Maybe if we are allowed 15 men on the field at once, we’ll have a good chance.
“We haven’t lost sight of how good a side Rosenborg are. We are under no illusions how well they can pass the ball and also retain possession. I think they will be very confident going home with a draw. Perhaps they underestimated our abilities a little bit but they will probably be pleased with the result.
“We have been at their stadium twice now and know how difficult it is, especially back in 2013 (Rosenborg 7-2 Crusaders). It’s a big, big pitch. Whereas we have a compact ground that suits our direct play, it will be a wide, long pitch over there that suits a passing game.” The veteran manager said.
With any “shock” out of the way, the Hatchetmen will need to be doubly-clever to catch their opponents cold again this week. With a direct attacking approach perhaps not favourable to the conditions, Crusaders may explore a more counter-attack approach to reduce space in the defence. Nonetheless Baxter has some plans up his sleeve.
“We have three systems that we can quite easily adopt. I can’t say what these are specifically but it will allow us to change our gameplan if required. I think that’s only expected at this level, and having no ‘plan B’ so to speak would be a very bad idea”.
Philip Lowry and an own-goal, gave the Crues the draw last week and it was further evidence of the attacking threat that they can produce that will have champions Larne looking carefully over their shoulder in the season ahead domestically.
Going into tonight’s game, the visitors have no new injury concerns but the game is likely to come a week too soon for injured defenders Josh Robinson (leg) and Jimmy Callacher (back).
If Baxter's side can get the win to progress, it would surely be the greatest night in their European history, and would set up a mouthwatering clash with Scottish side Hearts in round three.
