Queens ready to repel Danish invaders in club's first UEFA cup match

Aug 13 2008 by Craig Robertson, Dumfries Standard Wednesday

GORDON Chisholm will send his European warriors into battle tomorrow night – urging them to craft a Danish downfall.

The Queen of the South boss knows their first ever match in the UEFA cup against FC Nordsjaelland is a massive step for everyone associated with the Palmerston side.

But on the eve of the first leg clash at Airdrie United’s Excelsior Stadium, Chisholm will remind his men just how well they played in the Scottish Cup to get where they are now, striding past Aberdeen and almost putting Rangers to the sword.

And having watched their Danish opponents, the manager reckons they are on a par with Aberdeen – so he knows just what kind of performance is expected from his players.

He told the Standard: “We have to be at our best for this game. I don’t think it is impossible if we put in the performances we did at the end of last season.

“But there is no doubt it will be very difficult for us.

“They are a good side, very confident on the ball and technically very good.

“I would say they were on a par with Aberdeen – that is the size of the task we are facing.”

But Chisholm’s game plan won’t be to try and soak up the pressure during the home leg and hope not to lose an away goal.

He will be calling on his men to score against the Danes with the sole purpose of getting through to the next round.

He said: “The biggest thing for me is that we don’t concede a goal.

“We have got to be on top of our game defensively and if you are cut open by a good side and lose a goal you can accept it and say ‘that was a good goal’, but we can’t lose silly goals.

“We are a positive side and want to get through to the next round, so without having a kamikaze attitude, we want to score goals.”

He added: “This is a different level for everyone associated with the club, the players, the staff and the supporters, but we are all looking forward to it and all the lads are excited about playing in the match.”