Cillian Sheridan Predicts Motherwell Will Progress in Europa Conference League

Cillian Sheridan has no doubts. Motherwell, he insists, are finishing the job.

The former Steelmen striker believes Alfred Johansson’s side have one foot in the third qualifying round of the Europa Conference League after their controlled 2-0 first-leg win over HB Torshavn at Fir Park.

Goals from Martin Moormann and Lukas Fadinger gave Johansson the ideal start to his tenure in his first competitive match in charge, and Sheridan has seen enough to make a bold call.

"I'm going to put my neck out and say I think they will go through," he told the BBC's Scottish Football Podcast.

No sitting on the fence there. Sheridan framed the tie bluntly: a two-goal advantage, against a side sitting fifth in the Faroese top flight after 16 games, who reached Europe by finishing second last season rather than as champions.

"You can't go away to the Faroe Islands and lose a two-goal lead," he said. "Plus this is the Conference League, it's not the champions of the Faroe Islands, it's their team that finished in the Conference League positions."

The message is clear. Respect the trip, respect the opposition, but recognise the opportunity. Motherwell have the platform; the job now is to show the authority of a team that expects to progress.

Sheridan is happy to be judged on that prediction.

"I'm willing to have egg on my face at the end of this," he added, "but no, they're not going to give up this lead."

The second leg in Torshavn will reveal whether his conviction matches Motherwell’s composure on the pitch.