Attempt to restore battered pride

The National League goes about attempting to restore some battered pride tonight with Cork City and Bray Wanderers chasing respective 3-0 and 4-0 deficits against IFK Gothenburg and Grasshoppers Zurich in the second legs of their UEFA Cup qualifying round ties.

Neither would appear to have much hope of progressing, though Cork are confident that an early goal could throw their tie open again.

"Naturally we have to go out and try to win the game," says Cork manager Dave Barry. "If we start well, and obviously get an early goal, then who knows what may happen.

"Realistically, we can't go at the them hell for leather as we would run the risk of getting caught with an away goal which would end the tie. But we have to be positive after our performance in Gothenburg when they were flattered to beat us 3-0."

Barry will doubtless believe that the Turner's Cross crowd can play their part as well.

"We got two early goals against CSKA Kiev at Turner's Cross last season and we would be looking for a repeat of that. We created four chances over in Gothenburg and we would have to expect to get more than that in the home leg."

There was good and bad news yesterday for Barry as he finalises his team. Liam O'Brien came through a training session on Tuesday night without any adverse reaction to the hamstring injury that has sidelined him since the start of the season and is in contention to start while Patsy Freyne has shaken off a slight groin strain. However, fellow central midfielder, Mark Herrick, is doubtful despite medical reassurances that there is no cartilage or ligament damage to the knee he injured in Saturday's defeat to Sligo Rovers.

A further worry for Barry is that striker Pat Morley is on antibiotics as he tries to shake off flu.

Meanwhile, Bray manager Pat Devlin takes a more philosophical view of his side's dilemma, effectively admitting that restoring some self-respect is all Wanderers can hope to achieve against Grasshoppers.

"We have done everything that is humanly possible as regards preparation for part-time players," said Devlin. "We have set high standards, but the bottom line here is that part-time footballers cannot compete against full-time professionals.

"When you are constantly worried about work and getting time off, as well as domestic situations, it's quite difficult.

"What we want to do tonight is to get some kind of result that will restore pride back to the National League."

Bray wait on Colm Tresson (groin), Phil Keogh (throat infection) and Stephen Fox (calf) who all missed last weekend's league game with Kilkenny City.