Dundalk boss Stephen Kenny has praised his side after their narrow defeat to BATE Borisov in their Champions League second qualifying round first leg and believes they are in a great position to cause an upset.
Kenny's charges went down 2-1 to the Belorussian side in Barysaw and David McMillan's vital away goal gives them real hope in the return leg in Ireland next Wednesday; hope against a side that few people gave the Lilywhites a snowball's chance in hell against.
Kenny, speaking to the Irish Mirror, said: "It's no disgrace to lose 2-1 here as their home form is formidable. There's no doubt it's a better result than losing 1-0.
"BATE have qualified for the group stages four times and have beaten Bayern Munich and Atletico Bilbao here at home and they also drew with AC Milan.
"For us, we're in the Champions League for the first time in 20 years but there's no getting away from it, David McMillan's goal gives us a chance at home."
Kenny also admitted that while his charges were decent in the away leg, they will need that again, as well as more accuracy, in the second leg to inflict defeat on their Belarusian opponents, saying: "Even though we lost 2-1, I'm leaving here knowing we can play better.
"I'm disappointed to lose the game as I felt we had the better chances in the first-half even though it was quite even.
"BATE had three shots on goal and two went in. They scored with a great strike from distance and the second one was deflected.
"I was disappointed to go in 2-1 down at half-time as I didn't think it was a fair reflection.
"BATE were in the ascendancy in the second-half without having any real clear-cut chances.
"We're not necessarily saying the second game will be easier but we believe in the team we have, we believe in what Dundalk are doing and we believe in these players.
"They have a tremendous willingness to keep going until the final whistle and I believe we have a chance."
