<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=16720i_0uyEp7N600" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16720i_0uyEp7N600" width="1024" height="576" >Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes insists Tromso are not huge favourites to progress to the Europa Conference League play-offs despite the Norwegians leaving Ayrshire with a 2-2 first-leg draw.Bobby Wales' stoppage-time equaliser kept the tie level after Tromso recovered from fellow forward Kyle Vassell's early opener at Rugby Park.Kilmarnock are also recovering from a bruising 3-0 Scottish Premiership defeat at home to St Johnstone on Sunday. "I think there's a natural train of thought that everybody seems to think Tromso are huge favourites and that's fine and well, but from our point of view, we feel we're well in the tie," McInnes said.<ul><li>Who has your Premiership club brought in &amp; let go?</li></ul><ul><li>Published</li></ul><ul><li>7 hours ago</li></ul>"I think the game’s in the balance, to be honest. We think there's more to come from us in the performance and certainly more to come from us in terms of keeping the ball out the net."Tromso lie 13th in the Norwegian top flight, having finished third last year, but McInnes suggests they are well coached by joint bosses Jorgen Vik and Gard Holme, while also noting the danger from Lasse Nordas, the striker who fired his side's second goal last Thursday."They've got a good mixture of having experience and younger players," he said. "There’s good energy about the team. "I think the strength of the Tromso team is the team rather than individuals within it, but like any team, you still need the guys at the top end of the pitch and obviously Nordas had a decent start to the season, scoring goals."McInnes pointed out that Tromso "don't score a lot of goals domestically, but they don't lose a lot of goals either". He is therefore taking confidence from having "breached them" a couple of times already while disappointed at "the types of goals" they lost on the counter attack."We were reasonably happy with the performance, just annoyed with the level of goals we lost," he added. "I think that maybe skewed the result, but I thought we were the better team last week."Holme believes a lack of expectation given his side's lack of European experience could work in their favour as they look to meet the winners of the tie between FC Copenhagen, who lead 1-0 after the first leg in Denmark, and Banik Ostrava of the Czech Republic. "The feeling in the club is that it's a good opportunity for us," the Tromso joint head coach said. "We haven't been in this for 10 years - it's like they are hoping that we do well but nobody is putting us under pressure, so that's a very good position to be in. We’re in an attacking mind."<h2>Team news</h2>Tromso had a blank weekend in their domestic league and will likely have the same squad as last week.Midfielder Liam Donnelly has travelled with Kilmarnock despite missing out against St Johnstone on Sunday, as have striker Marley Watkins and winger Gary Mackay-Steven after they recovered from knocks.Corrie Ndaba is also with the party after the defender's return to the club, but McInnes would prefer not to call on the recent arrival from Ipswich Town for lack of match fitness, while midfielder Kyle Magennis misses out again.<h2>What they said</h2>Tromso co-head coach Gard Holme: "It's going to be a physical struggle, there will a be a lot of duels. It's a bigger pitch, a better pitch, so I think that will be a key point."It will be quite tight and quite tough and it can go both ways of course, but we are confident that we are in a good position but we'll see. I don't want to say that we are clear favourites, but we are we are confident in going into the tie."Kilmarnock striker Kyle Vassell: "We've had our chance in the Europa League that we let slip, so it makes this tie even more important. We need to go out there knowing essentially it could be a cup final atmosphere and we need to match it."We're full of confidence off the back of that result even though it was a draw. They have some good players, but I fancy my chances. It's a massive opportunity for us."</div></body>

Mountain View, CA

NewsBreak

UEFA Conference League Tromsø versus Kilmarnock kick off 18:00 Thu 15 Aug 2024

Kilmarnock manager Derek McInnes insists Tromso are not huge favourites to progress to the Europa Conference League play-offs despite the Norwegians leaving Ayrshire with a 2-2 first-leg draw. Bobby Wales' stoppage-time equaliser kept the tie level after Tromso recovered from fellow forward Kyle Vassell's early opener at Rugby Park. Kilmarnock...

UEFA Conference League Tromsø versus Kilmarnock kick off 18:00 Thu 15 Aug 2024

Comments / 0