There used to be a lack of negative emotion after the final whistle. Unsurprisingly, as despite all the luck at home, this level had long eluded the 16-time Welsh champions.
But after the romance of starting his groundbreaking first European team-level campaign at Fiorentina, this was the realism of wanting a result.
Although Opta had predicted it would take nine days to reach the play-offs in the revamped Champions League, TNS coach Craig Harrison believed there were others in the Conference League.
Although the layout is the same (36 teams, eight qualifying automatically and the last 16 in the play-offs), Harrison opened up before the game that his staff team had conducted their own statistical study.
“We think seven points may be enough to qualify with a good goal difference,” Harrison said next, collecting the first three of his goal. “There will be some so-called minnows in this tournament who will be beaten by 4 or 5. We lost 2-0 at Fiorentina and that could be the result between reaching the lead 24.
“I think seven points and a good goal difference will be enough. Eight points definitely. If we get seven points, we would be really disappointed if we didn’t make it to the top 24.”
With so many teams and so few between them in the next two days, it is difficult to know if the sums will rise or not.
However, if he is right, the next four games at the same time look like an anticipation of knockout football that few would have predicted. Two teams ranked above them will be dealt with next, which could be a trip to Pot Group 4 Shamrock Rovers later (November 7) and a home connection with Sweden’s Djurgarden (November 28), before the group ends with winless fifth seed Panathinaikos and next team from base boat Celje in Slovenia.
