Saints will play to the conditions
The New Saints manager Craig Harrison says the heat will be a big factor when they play in North Macedonia against Shkendija in the Champions League qualifiers.Saints could not find a breakthrough in a tight first leg of the first qualifying round tie at Park Hall, which ended goalless.But Harrison is confident his side will create chances in Skopje and will draw on the experience of last season's draw away to Decic in Montenegro."The heat will play a big factor so we can't go running around like madmen closing down and wasting energy," Harrison told BBC Radio Shropshire."We know what it's like in Montenegro, which is in the same region of the world, so it will be similar conditions, really warm."So we'll have to manage the game accordingly and we'll have to be a little bit better in possession of the ball."
Harrison said his side did "everything but score a goal" in what was an evenly-matched first leg.The Saints boss, in his second spell in charge of the 17-times Welsh champions, feels his side are capable of securing a win and progressing in the competition."I do think that if we can keep a clean sheet out there, I think we'll go through," Harrison added."We went out to Decic and were up against it there and we drew 1-1 in very, very similar surroundings."We'll have a game plan, we'll be well-organised and well-drilled out of possession."But I do think we're very dangerous on the counter-attack and will create chances."The winners will face FCSB of Romania or Andorra's Inter Club d'Escaldes in the second qualifying round while the losing team drop into the Conference League.
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