SCOTT Ruscoe backed TNS to complete the job in Gibraltar last night (Thursday).

The Saints manager was speaking ahead of the Europa League second qualifying round second leg clash against Lincoln Red Imps with his side 2-1 ahead following last week’s first leg in Oswestry.

TNS travel to the souther tip of western Europe with a third qualifying round clash against either Midtjylland of Denmark of Astana of Kazakhstan at stake.

Ruscoe said: “The win puts us in control going into the second leg. Yes they got the away goal but I did not think they really work hard enough to warrant it.

“I liked the way they played, they did some nice work in tight areas, but they didn’t really trouble us and did not really get behind us.

“We must work on being more ruthless in the second leg. We can always score goals so I’m confident we can do that in the second leg.

“I’m sure we’ll improve on our performance in the second leg and if we go out there and do that then we’ve got a chance of progressing.”

Ruscoe has enjoyed the Saints European adventure so far and hoped to keep it alive for as long as possible.

The Saints chief insisted the fitness levels of his squad would ensure their continued competitiveness in Europe’s secondary club competition having slipped out of the UEFA Champions League 5-4 on aggregate to Macedonian’s Shkendija after failing to recover from a 5-0 first leg defeat.

Ruscoe said: “When you’re playing against a side like Shkendija who were technically good and comfortable in tight areas it is very difficult whereas in the second leg it was more about running on adrenaline because the goals were going in.

“The first leg against Red Imps was more about being patient and waiting for that opportunity. Thankfully it came for us and we go into the second leg with a deserved lead.”

Ruscoe warned the job remained only half done and his players needed to be more clinical after wasting a hatful of chances.

“If we were laying below par and not creating chances we might be worried but we played below par in the first leg and still created a large number of chances which is the sign of a good team.”

Should TNS progress the home leg of their third qualifying round against either Midtjylland or Astana would take place 123 miles away at the Cardiff City Stadium on Thursday, August 9.