Players and fans will be buzzing for Euro tie

GregoryTade re-lives Saints’ 2012 clash with Eskisehirspor

hard to make it.

“It was the club’s first time playing European football in a while and maybe we were overwhelmed by the heat or situation.

“We were 2-0 down but I saw some of the footage of the game. I thought it was still possible for us.

“The way I was thinking was that we could score two goals. It never fazed us being down.”

On his goal and the buzz created, Tade continued: “It was unbelievable. We scored in the first half.

“They were playing decent football but we were matching them and were patient.

“Callum Davidson from nowhere got himself forward by the corner flag and whipped it in. I scored and the whole stadium erupted.

“At that moment I was just like: ‘This is football’. I felt I had made the right move in my career to play that game.

“It felt amazing because many people knew where I had started. I felt we were going to win it.”

The goal had handed St Johnstone a Europa League lifeline having lost the first leg in Eskisehir 2-0.

In the end it was not to be when Veysel Sari would later equalise to kill off hopes of advancing to the next stage.

Regardless, it will forever be a special night in the former Saint’s footballing career.

European football does not come along every season and Tade is urging the current group to have the belief that anything is possible.

Even if Saints are defeated by Galatasaray, they will drop into the play-off for the Conference League group stages.

“Players from St Johnstone need to believe that they are going to be in the group stage,” Tade told the Perthshire Advertiser.

“If they go with this attitude, they have got a chance. Go and play and say you belong there.

“The tricks and shots that you never tried in training or the league, do them now. The whole of Europe can see you.

“This is when you need to showcase your stuff.

“When many players do that at the same time, still listening to the instructions of the coach, you can do unbelievable stuff.

“You want to express yourself on the biggest stage and relish it.”