Daily Record

PRESSURE IS ALL ON YOU

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week and claimed his players still have plenty more to prove.

A capacity crowd of 3800 will be at The Showground­s to see if the League of Ireland outfit can achieve history by reaching the third qualifying round of a European competitio­n for the first time.

And Russell said: “Even though we got a great result, Motherwell are still favourites to get through the tie.

“We’ll be approachin­g this as though it’s 0-0 and we’ve got to win the match.

“We’ll not be sitting back and trying to defend a lead. We have a style of play and we’ll have a game plan. We won’t be looking just to sit back

“The players understand they are playing against a team that is perceived to have better players and are playing in a league of a higher level than our lads are currently playing at.

“A lot of our players have played in the UK and have a point to prove. The stage is now set and it’s brilliant for them.

“They showed in a good stadium and on a really good pitch last week that they’re well capable of playing.”

Sligo suffered defeat to Welsh side Bala Town at their own place but still edged the tie on penalties, having carried a 2-1 lead into the second leg.

But Russell added: “It’s slightly different from the last round where there was an expectatio­n within the country that we were going to beat Bala.

“It didn’t play out that way. This game is slightly different in that we’re the underdogs. There is a level of expectatio­n as it’s a football-mad town.

“Everyone here lives and breathes football.

“They’re hoping for a big performanc­e, we’re hoping for a big performanc­e. And with the energy they can bring to the ground on the night, it might give us an extra push against a top class opposition.”

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