A challenge to get into a knockout stages, based on what, us losing yesterday to a very good team away from home over a soft penalty decision when we were in complete control of the game?
If we can't beat Salzburg and Genk home and away then I agree it will be tricky again but I simply can't see that happening. With a bit more focus and luck yesterday we would have won the match quite easily I think.
We have won 1 of our last 7 group games away from home, a 7-0 win. Going away to win in Europe, is not like going away to Bournemouth. These are teams that are used to winning games and getting results at their ground. They wouldn't be in this competition if they didn't.
We were warned last night, that Salzburg in particular are going to be a more awkward hurdle than expected. Especially if we have to go there needing a result on the last night. So there can't be any complacency on the road, like there was in Belgrade last year for example. Plus all these sides have extra motivation against us, given our current status. So we have to go out there and do a professional job. The fixture list in the group is not favourable, and we've started off having to make up ground. Hopefully it won't go down to needing a result in Salzburg, but atm, we may need it.
On first viewing, the penalty looked clearcut. With some replays it looks less so. However, there was contact. The VAR was asked if there was contact, and he said there was, so the decision stood. The second goal was more of a mistake by the defence in general. Robbo and VVD were both out of position, Robbo and Matip didn't track the forward's run nor make any attempt to stop him. It puts us 0-2 down against them on aggregate, and a lot of work to do if we're to beat them on the head to head in November. One mistake in the group is recoverable, any more and this group gets a lot more complicated than it looked when the draw was made.
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