St Patrick's taking nothing for granted

UEFA CUP PREVIEW:FINDING THEMSELVES in the rather rare position for an Irish team of leading a European tie ahead of the second leg, John McDonnell and his players seem wary of their opponents rather than worried by them as the Dubliners prepare for tonight's Uefa Cup game at Richmond Park.

There is an understandable determination around Inchicore not to take this evening's result for granted but the home side really should be capable of building on their one-goal advantage from the first leg given that JFK Olimps are essentially an under-23 side formed three years ago with other clubs' players so as to make up the numbers in the Latvian top flight.

They find themselves in the Uefa Cup after making it to their domestic cup final last year when they were soundly beaten by league champions Ventspils and their form coming into this game is less than inspiring with Mihails Konevs's side, currently bottom of the league back home, aiming to end a run of 18 games without a victory in all competitions.

On the face of it, the home side look close to being certainties to progress and if they somehow fail to make tomorrow's draw for the next round it would be a hefty blow to morale.

McDonnell, though, insists that his players can't afford to be complacent against a side that was handicapped in the first leg by the early dismissal of midfielder Andrejs Stolcers.

"The fact is that they only had 10 men for most of the game out there so really we don't know what shape they'll adopt or how they'll approach the game," says McDonnell.

"The best comparison I could offer is that they're a little like a young UCD team and liable to do anything. Obviously they've got to try to win but really we don't know how they'll look to do it so we'll go into the game with open minds and look to counter whatever they try to do.

"If we could get an early goal, though, you'd like to think that would wrap it up for us and it certainly make it a lot easier to be relaxed about the whole thing. But right now, all I can say is that the job's only half done and we have to finish it off."

McDonnell is in a position to field the same team that started the away leg if he wants to with Mark Quigley returning from the suspension that kept him out of the draw in Cork at the weekend. Gary O'Neill, who started the first game on the bench, is set to miss out through injury, however, and having scored his side's goal 15 minutes from time, Ryan Guy is set to partner Quigley up front again with Jamie Harris, who played as a striker in Turner's Cross, reverting to central defence.

Of the club's recent signings, only Derek O'Brien, who started two weeks ago, is eligible for this round and the former Galway United player is likely to feature from the outset once more.

"We're in good shape but we won't be taking anything for granted," says right-back Damien Lynch. "To go away and win in Europe is a massive achievement for an Irish side regardless of the opposition but now we have to make sure we drive the advantage home."

The club has reduced admission prices to just €10 for adults and is hoping for a sell-out crowd.