SOCCER/EUROPA LEAGUE PLAY-OFF, FIRST LEG:ST PATRICK'S Athletic will have twice as many supporters as their opponents at the Stadionul Ghencea for their match with Steaua Bucharest on Thursday night. The Dublin club confirmed they have been allowed to purchase 200 "VIP" tickets for the Europa Cup game which Uefa has ordered to be played behind closed doors.
The move is to allow St Patrick’s accommodate sponsors and club officials, but in effect it means around 150 supporters will be able to attend the game.
The news comes after only three fans were able to attend the away leg of the third qualifying round tie against Krylia Sovetov due to the logistical difficulties and considerable cost involved in getting to the Russian city of Samara.
The upshot is that just about all of the supporters at Thursday’s game in the 30,000 capacity stadium will be cheering for the Irish side as the Uefa sanction stipulates that only 75 people, including players, from the home club, will be entitled to attend.
Jeff Kenna and his players fly out to the Romanian capital this afternoon and the St Patrick’s manager expects to have a full squad for the game, despite some players sitting out training yesterday.
“We have a couple of bumps and bruises from Friday,” Kenna said. “Ryan Guy, Jamie Harris and Jason Gavin didn’t train today, but they are expected to do so tomorrow. We’re hoping there are no concerns there.”
Kenna has seen DVDs of Steaua in action and has talked to Motherwell boss Jim Gannon, whose side was beaten 6-1 on aggregate by the Romanians in the last round, and the Dubliner feels his players will be well prepared.
He remains a little ambivalent about the lack of spectators in the ground, however, insisting that sometimes players react well to negative environments.
“I don’t know if it’s a significant advantage,” he says. “I suppose it can work both ways, where some players respond really positively to an intimidating atmosphere, for some it makes no difference and for others it could affect their game.
“I think it’s arguably a slight advantage but I don’t think it’s massive. Hopefully for them it will work in our favour.”
