Ormerod faces Steaua power

By Tom Rollett

When Southampton FC take on FC Steaua Bucuresti in the UEFA Cup first round this week it will mark their first taste of European action since defeat against Hamburger SV in the same competition in 1984.

Long wait
That is a remarkably long wait for a club that has enjoyed an unbroken 25 years in the English top flight - but Saints striker Brett Ormerod reckons it will only add spice to an already mouthwatering evening at St Mary's stadium.

Special night
"It's the club's first European game for 19 years," Ormerod told uefa.com. "That makes it extra special for everyone involved, especially the fans, who have waited an age for this kind of night. The whole town's buzzing at the prospect The supporters and players have had a taste of big occasions and we all want more."

European champions
Their excitement will be tempered by the knowledge that in Steaua they have drawn one of the top sides in the competition. European champions in 1986 and currently top of the Romanian league, Steaua are undoubtedly a club of proven quality.

Fantastic pedigree
"They're one of those teams that everyone knows about and have a fantastic European pedigree," Ormerod said. "They were consistently one of the best teams in Europe in the 1980s and are a very tough proposition once again. It's going to be a hard, hard game and we'll need to concentrate and work our socks off over both legs.

New experience
"We need to get a good result at St Mary's because we don't want to leave ourselves too much to do in Romania. The away leg will be a bit more difficult, because you're going to their country in front of their fans. It will be a new experience for a lot of the lads and we'll have to adapt quickly if we are to go through."

Ideal manager
But, Ormerod insists, Southampton have a manager with the ideal experience to steer them through this tricky tie. Gordon Strachan appeared in all three major European competitions as a player and was a key part of Sir Alex Ferguson's Aberdeen FC side that defeated Real Madrid CF to lift the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1983.

Wealth of knowledge
Ormerod said: "The benefits of having a manager like Gordon Strachan is that he's played at every level and won virtually every domestic and European trophy going with Aberdeen, Manchester United [FC] and Leeds [United AFC]. He's got a wealth of knowledge of European football, so it gives you that advantage. He'll know how to prepare us for the games, and we'll do what he wants us to"

Good shape
Unbeaten so far this season and lying a heady fourth in the Premiership, Southampton could not be in better shape for the contest. And while the south-coast club might not be many neutrals' tip to win the trophy, Ormerod insists they are not there only to make up the numbers.

Earning the right
He said: "There's no way we're just along for the ride. It's massive for the club. At the start of the season you want to win every competition you go into and this is no different. I know Southampton have never been beyond the second round, but we're not looking any further than the Steaua tie yet. Everyone's going to enjoy the experience and whatever happens, win or lose, I hope for the fans' sake that the town doesn't have to wait another 19 years for its next European night."