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Aberdeen can’t allow Runavik to take a Europa League qualifying scalp as bid for groups begins once more – Ash Taylor

Aberdeen defender Ash Taylor. 
Picture by Kami Thomson
Aberdeen defender Ash Taylor. Picture by Kami Thomson

Ash Taylor is determined to stop NSI Runavik adding to their list of British Europa League scalps.

The Faroese side thumped Welsh counterparts Barry Town United last week 5-1 to progress through a European tie for the first time.

Runavik have also beaten Linfield in past Europa League seasons and defeating Aberdeen would be a major scalp for them.

Last week’s tie was goal-less at half-time before Runavik ran away with the game amid foggy conditions in Toftir. Captain and all-time leading Faroese league goalscorer Klaemint Olsen bagged a hat-trick.

The Dons are favourites to progress in Thursday’s one-off tie at Pittodrie, but Taylor is adamant they cannot afford the visitors any chances.

He said: “With the history that Aberdeen have, it would be a scalp for them. We just don’t want that to happen, so we’ve got to put our full focus into the game and make sure we do our jobs and get through.

“You’ve got to be at it for the entire 90 minutes. It seems like they carry a threat and we need to be fully focused on the job in hand.

“We’ve got to get the job done and get through and hopefully there are no upsets on Thursday night.”

With the Covid-19 pandemic, qualifying ties are of a one-off nature this year, which could help Aberdeen reach the group stages of the competition for the first time since the competition was rebranded.

Taylor added: “I think the single leg ties can help. I quite like the one-off ties. You put everything into that one game and go for it. Hopefully we come out on the right side of it and hopefully we can get through the group stages.

“You’ve got a chance to get yourself back in the game if it’s a two-legged tie, but I think a one off game, depending on the draw, it’s a good chance to throw everything at it.”

The Dons have only been knocked out in their first European game – by Burnley in 2018 – but have regularly found the third qualifying round a stumbling block. Since Derek McInnes took charge in 2013 they have been eliminated five times in the third round.

Taylor added: “Rijeka away (QR2, 2015) was a really good highlight because of the form they were in at home. The away performance we put in was fantastic. The low point is not reaching those group stages.

Taylor pointed to the defeat away against Maribor in 2016 as his European low point with Aberdeen.

“The Maribor game away from home (in 2016) was very disappointing. I thought we were hard done by in that with Jayden Stockley getting sent off.

“I thought we could have got through to the playoffs and got through to the group stages. That was the low point.”