Source: Team_Talk
Houston not worried by change of venue
Dundee United boss Peter Houston is confident his players will not be affected by the change in venue for tomorrow's Europa League tie.[LNB] The Tangerines flew out to Greece this morning not knowing the venue for the play-off second leg against AEK Athens after vandals attacked the Nea Smyrni stadium - home of Panionios - overnight in protest to their rivals playing there.[LNB]AEK had been originally forced to move from the Olympic Stadium because of a damaged pitch so faced having nowhere to play the match and exclusion from the tournament until a solution was found with their fiercest rivals.[LNB]Because of crowd concerns, AEK fans are banned from attending so it will be just United's 500-strong support inside Olympiakos' Karaiskaki Stadium as the Tayside club seek to overturn a 1-0 deficit.[LNB]After a lengthy wait while UEFA inspected the damage and AEK sought yet another solution, the governing body confirmed this evening that another venue had been found.[LNB]A United statement read: "UEFA have confirmed that the Europa League game v AEK Athens will take place at the stadium of Olympiakos FC."[LNB]Houston insists the change of venue will not affect his players and is more concerned about the baking heat.[LNB]He said: "AEK are a quality side and if the stadium is full or it is empty doesn't matter.[LNB]"As far as the football side is concerned they are still the top class team we saw last week.[LNB]"The heat is obviously a factor. As soon as we landed you could feel it and even though the game is a 9pm kick-off it will still be very hot.[LNB]"So we'll have to make sure that the players have plenty of water available. When Scottish players go into these conditions it's always a bit harder."[LNB]Meanwhile, defender Darren Dods is hoping for recall after being dropped last week.[LNB]United have shipped five goals in two matches during his absence so the 35-year-old is aiming to be in place against AEK.[LNB]He said: "Last week I was a bit surprised when the gaffer named the team and I wasn't in it, but it was a tactical thing and these days we keep hearing it's a squad game, so it's one of these things that can happen.[LNB]"You accept it, just get on with your job and help the boys who are playing in any way you can, but it goes without saying I want to play in the second leg.[LNB]"We can expect to have to do a bit of defending because they've already shown they're a good team and they'll want to win again.[LNB]"They'll come at us, but I don't think they'll start with all guns blazing because they are an experienced team and they know it's important for them not to lose an away goal.[LNB]"It's not going to be easy, but we'll give it our best shot and we have players who on their day are capable of punishing anyone."[LNB]United fans will be transported to and from the ground by coach amid fears over the reaction of AEK Athens supporters to the news they will be locked out.[LNB]AEK manager Dusan Bajevic was attacked by some of his own fans following a pre-season friendly and there is the further complication over the response of Olympiakos fans.[LNB]United chairman Stephen Thompson said: "I am extremely unhappy. We are concerned about our fans but UEFA have given us an assurance that we will be safe."[LNB]United fans will need their original match tickets in order to be bussed to the ground from Kallimarmaro Stadium.
