QUEEN OF THE SOUTH manager Gordon Chisholm insists their European run is not dead despite their 2-1 defeat by Nordsjaelland in the home leg of their UEFA Cup second qualifying round clash.
The Irn-Bru First Division side fell a goal behind within two minutes against the Danes when Sweden cap Benjamin Kebibe was afforded space to volley home in the six-yard box.
Sean O'Connor powered home a header at Airdrie's Excelsior Stadium but Q
ueens fell behind four minutes later when Patrice Bernier escaped the attention of three players to slide home from ten yards.
Chisholm admitted poor defending had cost them dear but he saw enough positives in his side's display to keep alive his hopes of an upset.
O'Connor and Jim Thomson both came close with headers and Queens pushed their opponents back for long spells after the break without carving out a killer chance.
Chisholm said: "It's going to be difficult but at 2-1 you never know, I have been in football long enough. I have told the boys the way they went about the second half, the pressure they put on, it's not dead. We could go out and score an early goal, you never know in football. Difficult? Yes. Impossible? No.
"I emphasised how important it was to defend well. I have been banging the drum for three or four days so to get off to that start was a massive disappointment."
Nordsjaelland manager Morten Wieghorst was happy with his players' attitude after warning them to write off the Doonhamers at their peril. And he will continue to guard against complacency ahead of the second leg in Denmark on August 26.
"A bit more composure in the second half and we would have killed the tie completely," the former Celtic and Dundee midfielder said.
"We are in the driving seat but we still have a job on our hands and I will make sure the players don't think this is all over – because it's not yet."
The full article contains 340 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
