Port Talbot boss Mark Jones promises Finns warm welcome (July 8) 10:00
PORT TALBOT manager Mark Jones says his side must greet Finnish side TPS Turku tonight with a “welcome to Wales” first tackle.
Jones’ men host the Finns at the Genquip Stadium (6.15pm) for the second leg of their Europa League first round tie trailing 3-1 after the first leg.
A Martin Rose’s second-half goal last week kept Port Talbot in with a fighting chance of progressing, and, while still clear underdogs, Jones believes his men are very much in with a shot of causing a shock.
Jones said: “They had a chance to finish the tie at their place and they didn’t take it.
“We know that the first 20 minutes is very important to us, and we must make sure it’s a welcome to Wales first tackle. We will have the backing of 1,000 supporters and we must make sure they know we mean business.”
This will be Jones’ eighth European tie having steered Carmarthen Town to European competition in three consecutive seasons during his spell in charge there.
He believes off-field factors may serve to unsettle the Finns as much as anything his players can muster on it.
Jones added: “We are looking for a 2-0 win or better to take us through to the next round and, while we know we are up against it, I don’t see why we can’t do it.
“They will travel here having been used to perfect changing rooms and a perfect playing surface.
“Compared to our changing rooms theirs were like walking into Buckingham Palace!
“It’s things like that we can turn to our advantage.
“It will be a culture shock to a top Scandinavian club and it’s up to us to make sure we put them under pressure right from the start.
“We need to raise our game an extra 10 per cent and if we can do that then anything can happen.
“We need to be proud of the league we play in and a good result will raise the profile again.”
Meanwhile, TPS midfielder Riku Riski admits his team expect Port Talbot to “come at us twice as hard”.
Riski, who scored twice in the first leg, said: “We must remain tight and counter-attack quickly.
“That way I am sure they will not be able to keep up with us.”
Western Mail.

 
Rhys Griffiths ready to fire up Llanelli challenge (July 8) 10:00
CARDIFF-BASED firefighter Rhys Griffiths believes he can lead Llanelli to European glory in Lithuania today.
Andy Legg, manager of the Welsh Premier club, will surely turn to Griffiths in Llanelli’s quest to beat FK Tauras away.
The teams drew 2-2 in the first leg, but Griffiths was not in the starting line-up after arriving back from his honeymoon in Italy only a few days earlier.
Llanelli had Chris Holloway sent off during the second half and he will be suspended for the return game.
Legg is likely to recall Griffiths as he reshuffles the team looking for the victory which would land them a second qualifying round tie against Apoel from Cyprus.
Prolific scorer Griffiths, five times winner of the Welsh Golden Boot, went on from the substitutes bench during the second half, but missed a couple of chances.
The 6ft 3ins Welshman said: “I should have scored, but I’m confident I will in the second leg. Tauras are not a better team than us – and no way do they have bigger hearts. We know the challenge we face and we will be ready for that.
“Everybody in our dressing room knew we should have won. We are still right in this tie and I would always back myself to score in any game.”
Griffiths, 30, is a former Cwmbran Town, Haverfordwest County, Carmarthen Town and Port Talbot Town striker who signed for Llanelli in 2006-07. He has scored almost 200 league goals, second only to Marc Lloyd-Williams on the all-time list.
FORMER Cardiff City defender Lee Jarman, who played for Llanelli last season, has not yet decided where he will play this season. “Lee is a player we will be talking to,” said manager Legg.
Western Mail.