Uphill task for Cork

Cork City face a difficult task tonight when they take on Djurgarden in the UEFA Cup second round first leg in Stockholm hoping for a good result to bring back to Turner’s Cross in a fortnight’s time.

While last week’s 4-1 defeat for Shelbourne in Bucharest did little to lift the confidence of Irish sides going abroad, Cork manager Damien Richardson insisted that his side must be confident ahead of the game.

“I think the days of us coming away with inferiority complexes are gone. I think the days of us treating European games as an adventure and a reward for the previous season's successes are gone. Now people travel with expectations as opposed to hope."

Having beating Lithuanians’ Ekranas 2-1 on aggregate in the first round, Cork already know how to win away from home in Europe and Richardson is unsure of how to select his side.

With George O’Callaghan suspended, he must decide which two from Greg O’Halloran, Colin O’Brien and Joe Gamble will play in the centre of midfield with the rest of the team along similar lines to the side which is now 14 games unbeaten in the League.

Djurgarden have hit a slight rough patch in recent weeks picking up just one point from their last three games and are no longer top of the Swedish League but they remain formidable opponents.

New €1m signing from Norwich City Mattias Jonson will start in midfield while skipper Markus Johanneson will return having missed their last League game through suspension.