Craig: We can raise Barr .. and the roof in Denmark

Aug 17 2008 Gordon Waddell

CRAIG BARR insists Queen of the South will fly into Copenhagen next week then stay in the sky to hit Euro rivals Nordsjaelland with an aerial bombardment.

The Dumfries rookies were gutted to have coughed up two away goals to the Danes at Broomfield on Thursday night in their first ever UEFA outing.

But the 21-year-old stopper saw enough fear on their faces every time Queens piled a set piece into the box to know the high ball is the way to go a week on Tuesday.

And he refused to believe Gordon Chisholm's men can't rewrite Scottish football history and overturn a home defeat in Europe for the first time.

Former Gretna ace Barr said: "We definitely feel if they can score two here, we can score two there.

"There wasn't much between us at all. We just started poorly defensively, losing a goal from a set piece inside two minutes.

"But they didn't look too clever at set pieces either and that's definitely a road we'll go down in the return.

"We equalised from one of the first free-kicks we took. I said after the game in the dressing-room that every time we had a dead ball I felt we were going to score or at least make their keeper do some work.

"Every high ball into the box caused problems so that's something we can work on and hopefully take advantage of."

Lodged at left centre half between veteran defenders Jamie McQuilken and Jim Thomson, Barr's pace was sorely tested all night as Morten Wieghorst's men challenged Queens in the channels.

But after going behind for a second time Barr reckons the First Division contenders' biggest problem was knowing whether to stick or twist and risk leaving the door even wider ajar.

His old club Gretna suffered a similar fate in their one Euro journey two seasons ago, going 2-1 down to Derry City at Fir Park then piling forward in search of the leveller only to get suckered by conceding three more.

He sighed: "It was disappointing to give up the away goals as we know how important they are in Europe.

"The surface made it difficult for the defenders and the keeper as well with all the water on it. But the most important thing is we still have half a chance.

"It was a bit similar to the Gretna game. You think in some ways 2-1 is not too bad a result but you're caught in between, wondering if you should really be pushing on to have a go, but risking losing another.

"We had a good go though, we went for it. I had a header that went close while Stewart Kean, Stephen Dobbie and big Jim Thomson all had chances.

"There's no doubt we need to go for it over there now. We must try to score early, get their fans against them, get ours behind us. Why not?

"Our support were magnificent in the first leg and we're supposed to be taking nearly 1000 with us to Denmark.

"If we can get an early goal, the way they did, then there's no reason we can't be in that draw for the next round.

"We just need to step up our game from what we're used to in the First Division. It's a different level in Europe. One mistake and you are punished which doesn't happen to you week in week out.

"We have all now learned that the hard way.