Sligo Rovers manager Ian Baraclough is hoping for a cracking atmosphere at The Showgrounds ahead of the return leg of their Europa League second round qualifying clash with Spartak Trnava on Thursday.

Rovers trail 3-1 from the first leg, but Baraclough belives his side have the ability to turn things around.

"The focus was very much on getting a result out there last week and again we felt we should have got something a little bit better because I felt the performance certainly deserved it.

"It gives us great heart going into this home game that we can make up the difference of the two goals and make it an exciting night.”

"I felt as if we go out there and more than match them. People were a little bit sceptical I think but we’ve got quality in our side.

"On any given night we can match a team like them and we did. Apart from a seven or eight minute period I thought we were the most dominant side and that is great credit again.

"It was in a hostile atmosphere if you like and it gives us great heart coming back here. If we can have a bouncing Showgrounds and get the fans to fill the place, we could see a very special night."

Baraclough is well aware of the tactical game Sligo must emply on Thursday and is conscious of the fact that his side have conceded some sloppy goals lately.

He added: "We can’t go gung-ho trying to get the first goal willy-nilly and leave ourselves open. We’ve been punished in the last home games for doing that with the onus on us to break the team down.

"This may be a little bit different. I’m not sure how they’ll go about it, whether they will think that if they get the first goal then the tie is over with and they’ll go for that at all costs. They could come here and sit back for 90 minutes and try to soak up pressure.

"It’ll be interesting to see what they do but certainly we’ll set out to be very strong, resolute, compact at the back and also be a threat going forward.”

The completion of the Volkswagen Bank End that could see a record 4,000 seated attendance and the atmosphere in The Showgrounds: “The new stand is fantastic and it is great to see it now. Hopefully we can fill it and to have all three sides full would be a magnificent sight to see.

"I saw the photos of last year and there seemed to be a really good atmosphere. It was full, it was bouncing and even though they couldn’t quite pull off the result everyone wanted, this year we are still in fighting.

"We got the away goal and if we can that first goal it is all to play for. They are special nights. Night games are different to a Saturday or Sunday afternoon. It has that special feel under the lights. We know what is at stake.

"There is a tie in the next round against Steaua Bucharest that everyone should be looking forward to and trying to get there.”

Meanwhile, defender Gavin Peers has called for patience ahead of the match. He said: “Last week it was important to get an away goal and thankfully we did. We have to up it a bit this time.

“I thought we played very well over there and I don’t think there is a need to go gung-ho for this leg based on that performance. They will try to frustrate us and it is the way they play over there.

“They try to kill the game and it is up to us to do our own thing and not lose our heads. We have to keep our cool even if things don’t go our way early on.

"We know we can have the ball, create chances and score against Trnava and we have to be patient to get the goals. If we step it up and play the way we did over there, then we have a great chance.”