Fagan anticipating stiff test from Minsk

 

Pat's are ahead in the tie heading into the second-leg at Richmond Park thanks to a hard-fought 1-1 draw in Belarus last Thursday. That precious away goal means that a scoreless draw or better would see the Saints into the third round of qualification for the first time in four years, pocketing an additional €220,000 in the process.

 

That strike came, as so many of the Saints' goals in Europe have in recent years, from the boot of talisman Fagan, who etched himself into the history books with his sixth goal in European competition for the Inchicore club seven days ago. Level with Declan ‘Fabio’ O’Brien on four goals ahead of Pat's current campaign, the 27 year old's two goals this summer saw him make the record all his own.

 

Speaking about his latest strike, Fagan praised the work of defender Ian Bermingham who set up the goal with a clever assist arising from a knock-down.

 

“It was nice. Bermo has done really well to read the knock-down in front of his man”, said Fagan.

 

“He happened to see me and played the ball inside to me. My touch was probably a poor one in fairness because the ball popped up on me. The [Minsk] lads closed me down and I had to make up my mind and just hit it. Thankfully there was a decent connection and it went in.”

 

Asked if European goalscoring records played on his mind in the duration of games, the forward said it was not a forerunning thought.

 

“It’s not on your mind. What’s on your mind is to keep going and to keep working for the other lads and if another opportunity were to come up to take it.”

 

Liam Buckley’s side will likely have to replicate the tough-to-break-down defensive display which earned them the 1-1 draw in Minsk. Fagan noted that their opponents, who qualified for the group stages of the Europa League in 2014-15 and 2015-16, will likely be much more aggressive than in the first-leg.

 

“We will be expecting another tough game. We will be expecting them to come out more aggressive earlier than they did last week. I’m sure they will be trying to push us to get a goal and get themselves ahead in the tie.

 

“I don’t think we will be in any rush to go out all guns blazing. We will have a game plan like we did last week. We will be trying to make them work hard when they have the ball and and when we have it, we will be aggressive to try and get the second goal.”