Whether coaching from the dugout or playing out on the pitch Gary Darrell has never lost to Trinidad and Tobago. It is a record he is desperate to remain unblemished when the dust settles on Sunday's World Cup qualifying showdown.

The national team technical advisor believes Bermuda holds a voodoo over the Soca Warriors having achieved a series of splendid results against the Caribbean superpower over the years.

Darrell was part of the team who beat Trinidad in the semi-finals of the 1967 Pan Am Games and was coach when Bermuda posted a win and a draw during a two-game tour of the Island in 1988.

"If you go back over history we've always seemed to do well against Trinidad," said Darrell who was invited back into the national team fold earlier this month.

"Often I think they've been guilty of looking past us and not giving us the respect we deserve.

"We went down to Trinidad in 1988 when I was coach and got a draw and a win. We also beat them in the semi-final of the 1967 Pan Am Games when I was playing.

"For some reason we always seem to achieve good results against them. When I've been directly involved with the national team we've never lost to them – hopefully we can keep it going."

The former Washington Diplomats midfielder is under no illusions of the difficulty of task ahead with Bermuda needing to prevent Trinidad from beating them by two clear goals in order to progress to the next stage.

Last Sunday's first leg has already been hailed as the shock of the round and Darrell, who masterminded Bermuda's best ever World Cup run in 1992, is adamant the team can conjure up another magical result.

"I would put that victory very high in our all-time list. To beat a team of that calibre on the road is a great achievement," he said.

"We were prepared to settle for a draw or a narrow defeat so to come out with a victory was a massive boost for us."

If Bermuda are to complete their staggering mission and knock-out the 2006 World Cup finalists, Darrell believes they will need more attacking invention from their midfielders and high profile winger Khano Smith.

"I think we will certainly have to be better than we were on Sunday," he said.

"You can't fault anybody for their effort and I think Kenny's (Thompson) game plan was spot on.

"I think Khano (Smith) could have given us a bit more; the same applies to Kwame (Steede) and Keishen (Bean). I think our midfield in particular needs to be quite a bit better.

"But if we can match the effort we put in and improve on the areas we have identified then we can make it happen. It will certainly be a tall order though."

Two-goal hero John Barry Nusum took part in light training yesterday and is still a doubt for Sunday's match due to the hamstring injury he picked up in the first leg. Darrell has his fingers crossed that Nusum will be passed fit and reckons the striker is in the best form of his career.

"The last three games have been the best I've seen John," he said. "He's got back to playing outdoor football after finishing his indoor season and he was excellent against Barbados in the second game. On Sunday I thought he was terrific as well. He has established the kind of fitness he needs for the outdoor game and is in great form."