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Zalgiris Vilnius are trying to kill St Pat’s with kindness ahead of tonight’s Europa League

showdown by claiming: “We need to play more like you.”

Usually when teams come to Ireland the visiting manager talks about preparing for a “typically British” encounter.

By that they mean a long ball, rough and tumble approach with big, imposing players willing to win by any means necessary.

But not Zalgiris skipper Andrius Skerla – who played over 150 games for Dunfermline – as he admits the Lithuanians could learn a thing or two from Liam Buckley’s men who have two valuable away goals.

“They are not a typical British team who try to play long balls,” said the 36-year-old with 84 caps for Lithuania, one of eight internationals in their side.

“They try to play short, nice football which is good looking for the supporters. If you want to win you need to play football and St Patrick’s showed us how we must play.”

Saints ace Ger O’Brien scored a screamer in Lithuania last week to secure the 2-2 draw and is glad to see the back of days when Irish teams played kick and hope in Europe.

“We like to keep the ball and if you don’t keep the ball well in Europe then you have no chance,” said the full-back.

“It is probably why Irish clubs in Europe years ago did not do well, we were probably more of a route one league and could not retain possession.

“We have seen it with our own international team at the Euros – if you don’t keep the ball then you get the runaround and teams start to open you up quite easily when you are tired.

“In the second-half last week, we kept the ball and they were out on their feet in the last 15 minutes. I really thought we were going to get a couple of goals.”

Saints have turned Richmond Park into a fortress at this time of the year and are unbeaten in their last 11 European games in Inchicore stretching back to 1999.

They have reached the Europa League’s third qualifying round three times in the last four seasons, albeit having to play their latter stage games at other venues like Tallaght and the RDS where they have yet to win.

So O’Brien admits the pressure is on to go on another run with either Pyunik of Armenia or Teteks of Macedonia waiting in the next round.

But he said: “Teams are expected to get through the first round which is a good thing. To have that pressure is great.”

Meanwhile, Saints boss LBuckley swears the financial reward on offer tonight is the last thing on his mind. His side will pocket €250,000 if they send Zalgiris Vilnius of Lithuania packing at Richmond Park.

They have already banked €120,000 for playing in this round. And the Inchicore men will trouser an additional €130,000 if they progress to the second round.

But Buckley said last night: “The finances don’t come into it for us.

“None of the players in our league are millionaires but these are the games you want to be playing in.

“Finances are important in terms of budgets for next year and the rest of this year but it’s a football story for us.

“We are in a good position to get through but we won’t be taking anything for granted as they are a decent team.”