O’Neill insists Rovers can cope with heat of battle in Belgrade cauldron

MICHAEL O’NEILL is adamant his Shamrock Rovers players won’t be intimidated by the cauldron of heat and hostility in the Partizan Stadium in Belgrade tonight.

Temperatures hit 41 degrees in the Serbian capital yesterday. And though that should drop to the mid 20s at match time tonight, the atmosphere the local fans create will ensure Rovers get a red hot reception.

But Rovers’ boss O’Neill is unbowed by that expectation or the prize of over €1million minimum at stake as his side enter territory no Irish team has traipsed before.

“I don’t think they will be intimidated at all,” said O’Neill.

“I think as an opposition player the atmosphere will help us. I was here at their first game of the season. They had fantastic support. They were very, very vociferous in backing their team.

“But, equally, as an opposition player, I think it’s a nice thing to come in and play in that situation. I think the lads will look forward to that.

“If we look at the balance of the tie, the pressure is on Partizan. They didn’t expect to be here. They obviously expected to be in the Champions League and they are dealing with the disappointment of that.

“Now they’re in a tie for the qualifying round of the Europa League which is finely balanced at 1-1. So the pressure is firmly on the opposition.

“Their own supporters will be demanding that they progress to the Europa League group stages. As a club, we have everything to gain, the players have everything to gain and I think the atmosphere will be something the players relish.”

Having played second fiddle for much of the first half last week, Rovers upped the tempo in the second-half and hurt Partizan more and more as the game wore on.

“We will have to try and play slightly higher up the pitch than we did early last week. Certainly we did that for 60 to 65 minutes of the game and for that time we were the better side, added O’Neill.

“Obviously we have to score to progress, but equally if we lose a goal the situation doesn’t really change — we still have to score.”

With Conor McCormack out with the knee ligament injured, O’Neill makes one enforced change with Chris Turner coming in midfield with Stephen Rice likely to slot into McCormack’s defensive midfield role. Partizan welcome back attacking midfielder Zvonimir Jukic.