A single mistake & you’re out.. at this level it’s just so cutthroat

Dundalk (1)

Tallin (0)

Europa League Round 1 qualifier (2nd leg), 7.45pm

v

Levadia

STEPHEN KENNY is taking nothing for granted against Levadia Tallinn at Oriel Park tonight.

Dundalk go into the second leg of this Europa League qualifier as hot favourites after coming home from Estonia with a 1-0 win last week.

Dylan Connolly’s winner has the League of Ireland leaders firmly in the box seat to set up a second round showdown with Cypriot side AEK Larnaca.

Boss Kenny though, claims his side are well aware of how costly mistakes can be at this level.

“The players realise and understand the ruthless nature of European football,” he said. “One mistake, you lose and you’re out.

“We’re not naive enough to think past Levadia and our full focus is on this game.

“You have to earn the right to win every game and, like ourselves, Levadia have ambition and will be very determined to go through.

“They went to a training camp for 10 days before the first game and their coach was with Serbia at the World Cup in 2010.

“They will be taking it very seriously and we have to respect that.”

Kenny added: “We don’t feel inferior to anybody. We won’t go on the pitch and surrender possession but we also understand we’re not at the level where we can underestimate anyone and just expect to win convincingly, especially given the rising standards in Europe.

“There’s still very much a game to be won.

“We have seen the comments from Sander Puri, who is an Estonian international. He sees it as a 50/50 tie so you have to respect that.”

Dundalk’s European run in 2016 made headlines across the continent.

But Kenny shrugs off the idea that it is his club’s ‘duty’ to try and restore some credibility to a League of Ireland which has been heavily under fire following the recent events at Bray and Limerick.

“Our duty is to try and progress for Dundalk Football Club. They’re two separate issues and I’m not into spin.

“We’re just trying to evolve ourselves, and European football is something we never take for granted.

“It can be a great thing for the players and the club, especially in a provincial town.

“It really lifts Dundalk and you can feel the energy around the place on a European night. The people take great pride in that.

“We’ve had some unforgettable European nights over the past five years but we’re forging our own identity and we want to create new history.”

John Mountney will miss the game with a thigh strain, joining Stephen O’donnell and Stephen Folan on the injury list.