Match Previews

Fomin (r) is ineligible….counterattacking tactic….first game in Euro cups in the club’s history….a defeat 0-3 in the principal game in Ukrainian championship….poor play in air and holes in defense following set pieces….FC Metallist starts their first Euro campaign in the team history by away game versus Everton and as said the head coach Markovic: “it will be a great experience for his team”. Some days ago Markovic said that in stead of their debut in UEFA Cup he thinks that Ukraine championship is more important for his team. Metallist could get the place in UEFA Cup through third place in Ukraine championship of season 2005/06 and their rival for the bronze medals was a team from Dnepropetrovsk. Dnepr was Metallist opponent in the last tour and Metallist was beaten in Dnepropetrovsk 3-0. Before that game Markovic said that Dnepr’s play looks like Everton’s one and so Metallist played by low passes and their game was built on massive defense and counterattacks. Only forward Nwoha (r) played up front and he was supported by two or three players but not more. Metallist players shot a lot from long range distances and were not bad in it. The game versus Dnepr showed that Metallist still have problems to play in air and they are weak following dead balls. Two goals of Dnepr in that game were scored by free kicks and Metallist defence played roughly and it was only their luck that they haven’t received any red card. Before the flight to Liverpool Markovic said that all his players are fit except of last year leader Fomin (r) who is ineligible for UEFA games because of he was in Shakhtar list for CL games. Fomin (r) is Shakhtar’s player on a loan and it is his second season in Metallist.  Markovic's words on pre game press conference were:  " we would play defensive football and rely on counterattacks, we will keep our defensive tactic the whole game".