Saints in Good Heart for Fram Europa League Match

The New Saints will be aiming to get something out of their Europa League 1st Qualifying Round, 1st Leg match in Iceland this evening, to give themselves, the best possible chance of progressing for the first time in Europe, when they play their inaugural European game at Park Hall next Thursday.

THE New Saints' assistant manager Mike Davies flew out to Iceland on Thursday and watched Fram Reykjavik lose 2-0 at home to league leaders FH Hafnarfjordur.

Saints' Assistant Manager Mike Davies watched the opponents lose 2-0 at home to league leaders FH Hafnarfjordur over the weekend, which is Fram's fifth defeat in nine League games.

The Saints trained in the Icelandic National Stadium in Reykjavik on Wednesday evening and are in good heart after arriving in Iceland on Tuesday. They spent Wednesday morning relaxing at the Blue Lagoon, a geothermal spa and there are few injury worries, which meant that the whole squad was able to put in a full hour on the pitch.

Fram expect a crowd of only 500 to attend the game, as there are four First Division matches being played concurrently with the European tie, one of which is being screened live on Icelandic television.

The Saints will have to contend with two former Chelsea youngsters, the Reading-born Tillen Brothers. Sam Tillen, 24, is a pacy left sided player, equally at home at full back or left wing. He played for Chelsea's academy and reserve teams, before joining Brentford, for whom he made 83 appearances and then Fram, where he arrived in February 2008.

Joe Tillen, 22, is a winger currently who was also previously in the youth setup at Chelsea, before he joined his older brother at Fram Reykjavik in May 2008.

Fram Reykjavik From: Hannes Or Halldorsson (GK), Ogmundur Kristinsson (GK); Paul McShane, Ingvar Or Olason, Kristjan Hauksson, Audun Helgason, Halldor Hermann Jonsson, Daoi Guomundsson, Heidar Geir Juliusson, Sam Tillen, Hjalmar Porarinsson, Almarr Ormarsson, Hlynur Atli Magnusson, Bjorn Orri Hermannsson, Grimur Bjorn Grimsson, Alexander Veigar Porarinsson, Guomundur Magnusson, Ivar Bjornsson, Jon Guoni Fjoluson, Jon Orri Olafsson, Kristjan Hauksson, Joe Tillen

The New Saints From: Paul Harrison (GK), Lee Williams (GK), Simon Williams (GK); Barry Hogan, Chris Marriott, Tommy Holmes, Steve Evans, Phil Baker, Scott Ruscoe, Alex Darlington, Matthew Berkeley, Jamie Wood, Craig Williams, Christian Seargeant, Craig Jones, Sean Jones, Conall Murtagh, John McKenna, Ryan Marriott, Aeron Edwards, Daniel Holmes, Craig Whitfield