Craig Brown’s thorough preparations laid the groundwork for success our first two ties and he is bound to have a thick folder detailing the strengths and weaknesses of Odense BK. There are suggestions that our opponents might be missing a few key players but we can’t rely on that hope, our players will have to be on top form if Thursday’s nights match is to be viewed as a success.
Odense go into this game with a comfortable 3-1 away win over Sonderjyske behind them and they lie fifth in the Danish table after 5 games. Their top scorer, Andreasen, injured his foot and is a doubt for the first leg. Their ‘keeper, Roy Carroll, has a hamstring problem and if he fails to recover they will have a relatively inexperienced replacement between the sticks.
Our management duo watched them recently as they lost 3-2 to Copenhagen. They know what we will face and have the experience needed to guide the players through the difficult away leg. Brown said, “My philosophy has always been: minimise the risk of failure. That means be well organised and know the opposition, because knowledge is power. So I certainly do not intend to go over to Denmark and lose.”
Motherwell have survived five competitive games so far without injury and the European squad is now enhanced by the arrival of striker Nick Blackman. It may be that his strengths will be of more use in the second leg. The task on Thursday is to ensure that we have a chance when Odense visit Fir Park in a week. It seems unlikely that Sutton, Murphy and Humphrey will be in the starting eleven and it may be that Forbes replaces Humphrey as was the case in the game in Aalesund.
Dare we expect to score in Denmark? If a goal comes the travelling fans will enjoy a great night of celebration in Odense but a more realistic expectation is for a 1-0 defeat with all to play for in front of the packed stands in Motherwell.