LEAKY LILIES MUST KEEP THE DOOR SHUT
DUNDALK eventually jetted out to Trondheim yesterday evening after a 110 minute delay due to a mechanical fault knowing their task against Rosenborg is not a complicated one. One goal and a clean sheet will most likely set up a clash with Celtic in the third qualifying round of the Champions League. If only it was that simple, though. Scoring goals away from home in European competition has not been the problem for Stephen Kenny’s side — they’ve done so in eight out of nine games under the Dubliner. Keeping them out is what has cost them dear as the only clean sheet they have managed came against Jenuesse Esch (Lux) three years ago. A lot has happened in the summers since but as the Lilywhites boss chatted with supporters prior to departure to Norway, he didn’t look like man daunted by the task. A high-scoring draw – 2-2 or higher will also see Dundalk progress – and even before last season’s historic Europa League campaign, during which they became the first Irish club to earn a point and then win a match in the group stages, they proved more than capable at finding the net in unnerving arenas. They travelled to Croatia and beat Hajduk Split 2-1, but the damage had already been done in the first leg when they lost 2-0. Kenny learned his lesson from that defeat and Dundalk have never looked as open as they did in that tie at Oriel Park. Defensive errors have continued to plague them, though, and that was the case right up to last week when Rosenborg struck an undeserved equaliser from a run-of-the mill setpiece. Centre back Brian Gartland lost his man and in his attempt to make amends turned the ball into his own net. Last year, Dundalk scored away in all three of their group games — against AZ Alkmaar, Zenit St Petersburg and Maccabi Tel Aviv — but they also failed to keep that elusive clean sheet. Andy Boyle has since departed the club and one of those who has been auditioning to fill the void has been Paddy Barrett. With winter signing Nicklas Vemmelund a doubt with a hamstring strain after coming off in the first leg, the Waterford native is in line to start in the Lerkendal Stadion tomorrow night after the squad trained at the FAI’s National Training Centre in Abbotstown over the weekend. ‘They have the upper hand with the away goal and being at home it makes us need to come out and play more and push forward,’ he reasoned. ‘We’re not fearful of anyone and knowing we have to score, we’ll push out more from the back and play higher as a team. Hopefully we get the goal or goals that we need ‘If you let them play they could be very good.’ Dundalk have already proven a worthy match for their Scandinavian rivals, the key tomorrow night is cutting out silly mistakes.
TOMORROW
Champions League second qualifying round, second leg: Rosenborg (1) v Dundalk (1) LIVE RTÉ 6.15pm