TNS 0 Djurgården 1
With some 2,000 Swedes in attendance on this cold dry tea time, this felt more like Stockholm than Shrewsbury. The visitors never stopped singing from beginning to end and even included a version of Ewan McColl's "Dirty Old Town", a popular anthem at Salford and FCUM. And who could blame them? Unlike Stockholm, Shrewsbury has wonderful pubs selling proper beer which costs less than half the fizzy rubbish sold in Sweden. Many of the 2,000 missed the kick off at Shrewsbury's newish out of town stadium..
Djurgården now ground share with Hammarby. Their recent derby was suspended after 75 mins after Djurgården fans wouldn't stop letting off pyrotechnics. The game was completed the next day in an empty stadium.
Shropshire based TNS had to seek a special dispensation from UEFA to play in England as there was no stadium in Wales meeting UEFA requirements which was available for their 3 group stage home games. Nevertheless the highlights were only shown on the Welsh language S4C channel with no English subtitles.
The FAW are trying to persuade Merthyr to defect to the LoW which seems unlikely as they are nearing promotion to NLS. Meanwhile Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham are contemplating entering the Welsh League Cup if the FAW agrees to the winners getting a Conference League place. Vaduz from Liechtenstein, who play in the Swiss League, get in by a similar back door.
The game itself was very tight. TNS were excellent defensively but had very little possession and went behind just before half time. They failed to exert much pressure in the second half not getting a corner till the 93rd minute.
TNS have now played 12 European games, losing six, drawing three and winning three. And they are still not out of it. Not much jeopardy in UEFA's fiefdom. I normally watch Welsh sides in Europe in July with many games, ironically, moved to TNS's ground which meets guidelines for the qualifying rounds. I never expected to have to wait till late November for my first.