Bermuda Football Association (BFA) commander-in-chief Larry Mussenden hit back at the Trinidadian media yesterday in the wake of their "unfair" criticism of the Island's senior national football team who beat the Soca Warriors 2-1 in the first leg of a World Cup qualifier in Trinidad last weekend.

Among the main culprits were the Trinidad Express, Newsday and Guardian who were all highly critical of Bermuda's performance and went as far as to label Kenny Thompson's bunch as "pudgy, substandard and poor".

"I'm disappointed by their criticism because they seemed to have focussed on the quality of the Bermuda team that won the match," Mussenden said.

"I would've thought their commentators would've focussed more on the Trinidadian team, which some of them did do.

"I think the criticism of the Bermuda team was unfair because we had the ball in the back of the net (twice) and did what we had to on the road in their own back yard."

Mussenden was on hand to witness Bermuda's famous win last Sunday and reckons the hosts' decision to reschedule the match to the smaller confines of the Marvin Lee Stadium at the last minute actually worked against the home team who were rocked on their heels by a John Barry Nusum brace.

"It was a smaller stadium that wasn't sold out and I think the decision to switch the match to that stadium worked in our favour from an atmosphere point of view," he added.

"I'm quite pleased with the result and very happy for the team and the coaches and I salute their efforts.

"The team performed well and had no issues at all and have returned to Bermuda in a commanding position."

Bermuda and Trinidad will lock horns in the second leg of their World Cup qualifier at a sold out National Sports Centre (NSC) on Sunday where Mussenden has again declared all out war against the Triny insurgents.

"Literally, it's a full scale war and so we ask every Bermudian to give their all to make sure we win," he said. "It will be a tall order because Trinidad are coming for war as well.

"They know what they have to do and are coming here quite prepared to do it.

"So our fans have got to make the National Sports Centre our fortress. Our fans need to create an environment of support for the Bermuda team."