Europa League: Llanelli hope to catch Motherwell off-guard

Published on Wednesday 1 July 2009 17:09

Llanelli manager Andy Legg admits they are catching Motherwell at the perfect moment as the Steelmen adapt to the departures of numerous key players and a change in management.

But the Welshman insists his players have to focus on their own game or risk a "hiding" from the Clydesdale Bank Premier League club.

Motherwell are going into the home leg of their Europa League first qualifying round clash with just 11 experienced players available to Jim Gannon, who was unveiled as the club's new manager on Tuesday.

But Legg does not want his team, who were runners-up in the Principality Building Society Welsh Premier League last season, to be sidetracked by Motherwell's selection problems.

He said: "I just feel at the end of the day they are an SPL outfit and with the quality of players they have got, and the quality of players who have left the club – David Clarkson joined Bristol City for 800,000 – we are still the underdogs.

"It's a great opportunity – it's the best time we can possibly play them and I hope we can take full advantage.

"But there has been no talk about Motherwell's squad and how many players they have got.

"All the focus is on how we can play. I think that's how it should be.

"If we turn up and perform, we'll give Motherwell a game. If we don't, we could be totally outclassed and on the end of a hiding.

"I'll accept it if my team give their all and it's not good enough. If they don't, I'll not be happy."

Legg enjoyed a distinguished playing career with the likes of Notts County and Swansea, with whom he played several European ties.

And he hopes to settle the nerves of his younger players before the first leg at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium, which is being used while Motherwell's new Fir Park playing surface beds in.

"I'm just trying to make sure they don't freeze on the night," the 42-year-old player-manager said.

"We have a lot of young kids, and not a lot have played in big games.

"I don't know whether there will be 3-4,000 there but some of my

players have never played in front of crowds like that. The most they have played in front of is 7-800."

Meanwhile, Legg has suffered two late losses to his squad. Chris Holloway has fallen ill in Jamaica and is not allowed to travel home, while Jason Bowen has tendinitis in his knee.