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St Johnstone: Tommy Wright plots Europa League progress

Last updated on .From the section Footballcomments27

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright

St Johnstone boss Tommy Wright has described Thursday's Europa League clash against Rosenborg as "one of the biggest games in the club's history".

Saints hold a 1-0 lead from the first leg in Norway courtesy of Frazer Wright's goal.

"The players have given us a great opportunity to progress because I don't think anyone gave us a chance in Norway," he told BBC Scotland.

"Hopefully it's going to be a memorable night."

Wright described the win in Norway as "a tremendous achievement" but cautioned against complacency ahead of the game at McDiarmid Park.

"As I've been saying, it's only half-time and we have to start all over again tonight and probably have to work even harder to get a result.

"First and foremost we have to limit them to very few opportunities; we did that last week.

"However, we've also got to have a goal threat and can't just be sitting in. I can't see where our gameplan will change too much.

"We'll probably have a massive crowd tonight and we've got to be careful we don't get carried away with the occasion.

"I'm looking for a disciplined performance."

Responding to reports that Rosenborg coach Per Joar Hansen believes Wright is playing mind games ahead of the tie, the St Johnstone boss said: "I'm not intelligent enough to play mind games.

"They're the biggest club in Norway with a budget of £20m and for them not to get through, I can't see how that will be anything but a disaster for them.

"That's not mind games, it's just a fact."

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27 comments

  • Comment posted by User0824770862, at 12:31 25 Jul 2013

    @2

    BBC Glasgow would rather show Celtic play a glorified friendly in Belfast rather than a real game of football. Yet another example of their disgraceful coverage of Scottish, ie the Old Firm, football.

  • Comment posted by User0478701051, at 18:52 25 Jul 2013

    Celtic fan wishing the Saints all the very best for tonight

  • Comment posted by User0894073562, at 15:27 25 Jul 2013

    As a Celtic fan good luck to st Johnstone tonight, think its wrong that this game isn't being shown live. Would have liked to watch. Good luck to the rest of the Scottish clubs in Europe too.

  • Comment posted by Shaun Harvey, at 14:51 25 Jul 2013

    Massive game for saints tonight. It is correct to say Rosenborg are still favourites, but we showed in the first leg that we are more than capable if we stay focused for the 90 minutes. Hopefully our first leg performance will also give Hibs and Motherwell the belief that they can get through. They certainly have good enough squads to do something.

  • Comment posted by Myself, at 11:37 25 Jul 2013

    All of Scotland will be backing you tonight no matter what club we support.

    Good luck to The Saints!

  • Comment posted by User0696145681, at 21:58 25 Jul 2013

    So - next round of the Europa - Minsk v Minks!

    Only kidding chaps - great show this evening.

    There'll be dancing in the streets of Johnstone tonight... ; )

  • Comment posted by SuperSaintee, at 15:39 25 Jul 2013

    From a Saints fan, great to get support from fans of other Scottish clubs - wouldn't it be great if we all got through a round or two (or more!!)

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 17:32 25 Jul 2013

    @20 Fingers crossed, but don't underestimate Minsk. Hibs played Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk and well beaten. These Belarus teams are no pushover. Mind you, there's no easy teams in football these days.
    Good luck again for tonight though.... Will be on the edge of my seat for the Hibs game....

  • Comment posted by User0263084247, at 22:34 25 Jul 2013

    An Arab I may be, but tonight everyone was a Saintie! You've made every Scottish football supporter proud tonight. Well done St Johnstone.

  • Comment posted by Dondaz, at 13:09 25 Jul 2013

    Good luck to St Johnstone for the sake of Scottish Football. It will be a hard task for them but they might just pull it off. As for the Hibees I hope they can turn it around as well

  • Comment posted by goggyturk, at 11:58 25 Jul 2013

    Away the Saintees!

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 21:48 25 Jul 2013

    Well done Saints....

    Not so good down the road, but you guys have another round to look forward to.

  • Comment posted by User0183513851, at 16:39 25 Jul 2013

    I hope they do well and then get Valletta to go further.

  • Comment posted by R2301, at 13:17 25 Jul 2013

    Celtic fan here. Still gonna be checking my phone every 20 seconds for the live updates come kick off time. I hope St. Johnstone can do it. If they can beat Rosenborg then I don't think Valleta or Minsk will prove to much of a step up for them.

  • Comment posted by barksat, at 11:31 25 Jul 2013

    Good Luck!

    I fancy watching this game. But not being a saint's fan or particularly close I'd need to armchair it. Shame it's not televised in anyway.

  • Comment posted by User0712523103, at 13:25 25 Jul 2013

    this is so massive for st johnstone, this will guarantee them atleast 250k and if they get through that will get them like another 250k which is atleast one top signing and will put them in good stead to finsih top 3 again. basically this game sets their whole season up and could lead to the saints being spls second best, this is fro man aberdeen fan, come on st johnstone, scotland is backing you

  • Comment posted by OddJobLot, at 14:04 25 Jul 2013

    As a Hibee, I just want to say that no matter what happens down the road, good lick in the Europa campaign.

  • Comment posted by User0873559288, at 13:09 25 Jul 2013

    Absolute joke that the game isn't being shown. If the BBC think it's not worthy of a 'premier channel' slot, they could at least have stuck it on BBC Alba. Still, it might encourage a full house at McDiarmid, which can only help. Come on the Saintees!

  • Comment posted by PerthJam77, at 13:27 25 Jul 2013

    Was at our 1st UEFA game against Hamburg in 1971 and will be there tonight. Appreciate the support from other teams , gonna be very hard but we can do it. Would love to see Steven MacLean score tonight-his work-rate & play since he came to Saints has been excellent.

  • Comment posted by TheFamousAberdeen, at 10:55 25 Jul 2013

    Good luck Saintees!

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