3 days ago
St Patrick's Athletic ace issues rallying cry for second leg while admitting Besiktas tie is likely beyond them
TIE TOTAL St Patrick's Athletic ace issues rallying cry for second leg while admitting Besiktas tie is likely beyond them
BARRY BAGGLEY knows the tie may be beyond St Patrick's Athletic — but tonight's game against Besiktas is not.
The Saints are in Istanbul to face the Turkish giants trailing 4-1 from last week's home leg at Tallaght Stadium.
Baggley acknowledged that winning by three goals to force extra-time is not likely and knows all the Saints can do is try and get a result.
The midfielder said: 'We spoke about it on Tuesday night. We said we want to get a good result, no matter what the overall outcome is.
"If we're being honest, I don't think anyone thinks we're going to score three goals away to Besiktas.
'We're going to go out and try and win the game. We are going to go there and not let them have it their own way.
'Stop them from scoring any more goals and see if we can catch them on the counter-attack.'
But he knows doing that against Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side — who are under pressure having been beaten by Shakhtar Donetsk in the Europa League — will be tough.
Belfast lad Baggley continued: 'They were a step above what we've played. We knew it was going to be a tough game and that's what happened.
'I have played against France and Spain internationally with the Northern Ireland Under-21s but they are right up there as the best I have played against.
'When you go up that level, the touch is quicker, the physicality, they are just bigger and stronger and faster than what we are used to.
'That's what makes them such good players and that's why they are at this level.'
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The Saints recovered from a horror first half last week when they conceded four goals by holding the Turks scoreless in the second half.
And they pulled a goal back through winger Simon Power.
Baggley believes that shows what can be achieved and added: 'As you saw in the second half, we defended well, have pace up top and can score.
'We'll go in with a good attitude. We're going to try and keep it a lot tighter and make it difficult for them.
'Hopefully we'll get a few chances ourselves.'
