Alan Reynolds says Bohemians need to stand up and be counted if they want to extend their run in Europe.
Bohs host Kosovan side Ballkani in Dalymount Park in the first leg of their UEFA Conference League second round qualifier.
A fortnight ago at the same venue they navigated through a difficult first half against Gibraltans St Joseph’s to take charge in the second, running out worthy 2-0 winners thanks to goals from Douglas James-Taylor and Connor Parsons.
The second leg in Gibraltar was a professional job done, ending in a scoreless draw to see Bohs ease through, with Reynolds admitting that there was more entertainment in the stands among the large travelling support than on the pitch.
But he says this week’s opposition ‘are night and day’ compared to St Joseph’s, adding that his players are aware of that and the challenge that awaits them.
Reynolds said: “We’ve had an enjoyable couple of weeks in the previous round. Our last game here two weeks ago, St Joseph’s were tough opponents in the first half and had their chances.
“We defended well and our supporters got right behind us. The atmosphere was electric, having supporters in all three stands made a real difference.
“We were the dominant side in the second half and we pushed for a third, which I think our performance would have deserved but it wasn’t to be. That gave a good 2-0 lead to bring to Gibraltar but the tie was very much still in the balance as far as I was concerned.
“The scenes away to St Joseph’s is something our players will treasure and as I said after the game, I want to thank every single supporter who made the trip to Gibraltar, those lucky enough to get their hands on a ticket and those who travelled over regardless. The support we received was sensational. Taking to the pitch, the noise behind the goal made it feel like a home game.
“It was a cagey enough game in tricky conditions, which led to a poor spectacle. We had a couple of chances but overall there was probably more entertainment in the away support in the stands than there was on the pitch!
“But had a lot to contend with – a strong wind, heat we are not used to and a really poor artificial surface. There weren’t many chances, but we were professional in our approach and did what we had to do to get through. We kept our discipline despite it being tested, and the most important thing was that we got through to the next round.
“Our players were buzzing with the reception they got after the game from the travelling support and we want to build on that now.”
To do that, they have to get past Ballkani, who progressed to this round after beating Connah’s Quay 3-2 on Thursday – a late fightback from the Welsh taking the gloss off the Kosovans, who had surged into a 3-0 lead having played out a scoreless draw in the first leg.
The prize on offer for the winners is a tie against the losers of the Europa League qualifier between Turks Besiktas and Danes Midtjylland.
This is Ballkani’s fifth year in a row competing in European football. In that time, they got as far as the Champions League play-off round and to the group stages of the Europe Conference League twice, so they are a club of pedigree with far superior recent experience at this level than Bohs.
Like St Joseph’s, they are familiar with playing Irish sides having lost to Shamrock Rovers last season and having taken Larne two years in a row, winning comfortably in their first encounter and losing on penalties in their second.
Reynolds said: “We had them watched in the previous round and we have done our homework. The first thing I’ll say is that they are a big step from the team we played last week, it’s night and day. They are a very good side. They were well on top in both games against Connah’s Quay, and dominated possession, despite the margin of the win.
“They’re a very different team to the one that played Rovers too. It’s basically a whole new side, only a handful remain.
“We are coming into this tie with confidence, and we believe in ourselves and what we are capable of but there is nobody in our dressing room in any doubt about how tough it will be, and how hard we will have to push ourselves.
“It will take another massive effort from the players on the pitch and our fans off the pitch once more for us to progress. We have given ourselves a great platform but we want to push ourselves as hard as we can to go further.
“So my message to everyone is to keep doing what you have been doing, but to dig deep and see if you can give even more – we don’t want to leave anything on the pitch and we need our supporters right behind us home and away as well.”
Team news
Darragh Power is available once more having missed last week’s game through illness, while Senan Mullen (thigh) is a doubt.
