Bermuda coach Kenny Thompson is hoping the National Stadium is turned into a festival of football on Sunday as home fans will their heroes to victory.

Thompson (pictured), and his disciplined side pulled of a shock 2-1 away win against Trinidad and Tobago last week and now stand on the verge of making history.

He told the Mid-Ocean News: "To defeat Trinidad who represented CONCACAF at the World Cup in 2006 is quite an achievement. It ranks right up there but unfortunately it is only half the battle.

"Now we have to gear ourselves for an even more difficult match on Sunday."

The element of surprise is lost and Trinidad and Tobago will be out for revenge after humiliation on their home turf which saw their disgraced stars being booed off by frustrated home fans.

The team, replete with Premiership pros, were forced into desperate long-ball tactics by Thompson's well-drilled amateurs.

The hosts switched formations from 3-4-3 to 4-2-4 but still could not find a way through.

Last week's upset was achieved with an aggressive brand of counter-attacking football and Thompson said he hopes a full crowd back Bermuda - whichever way the game is flowing.

"We have a very good chance so the Bermuda public can help make this a great footballing occasions that will be remembered, whatever happens, for years to come," he said.

"There will be periods of struggle and it's then especially that we will need support of the public to get us through it. The crowd is going to be very, very important."

He doesn't think expectations will be too far fetched, despite the first-leg triumph.

"Most people understand we are a small country with 60,000 people up against a far larger island with more than a million people.

"Most people will come to the match with realistic expectations but we have to go for it. We have a winning mentality, despite our size, despite our amateur status. It is important not to go into a defensive shell but also to take opportunities in attack."

Thompson hopes fans will appreciate resolution in defence as much as good attacking play.

The coach won't be drawn on likely formations and tactics but will again instill in his players the need for flexibility.

"We would like to dominate the game, everybody would like to see Bermuda dominate, but football is not like that at any level. When the opponent is dominant we have to stay focused and mentally strong and stop the opponent from scoring."

He said the key to the first leg triumph was commitment ¿ across the team and also right through the backroom staff, the BFA and Government.

"We have basically amateur players but we have adopted a professional mentality."

It's something he has long called for ¿ that Bermuda could do much better by insisting on higher standards all round.

"The players have responded and we have a very supportive technical staff. We have to be prepared to dig very, very deep to keep the result in mind.

"On Sunday the players did that, it was very, very difficult and they have to be commended for not folding. But this group of players ¿ they just don't give up."

Preparing for Bermuda's biggest game for four years, the players resumed training on Wednesday and the squad will be spending the entire lead up together at the Hamilton Princess.

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