Aalborg 2 City 0 (aggregate 2-2, aet). City win 4-3 on penalties

There aren't many positives that you can take from this evening except that we are in the draw for the quarter finals (held Friday lunchtime).

It was disappointing to even get to the stage where we relying on penalties though after doing the hard work both last week to gain the two goal advantage, and of course for eighty-five minutes tonight where we played out a dour game to put more than one foot in the quarter-finals.

We have had a penchance this season for conceding silly goals in Europe, and once again this was the case this evening where we allowed Aalborg back into the game with five minutes remaining, a goal which gave them the impetus to throw everything forward and they were rewarded when Ched Evans was penalised and the game was taken to extra time.

Despite the introduction of Elano for the extra thirty minutes, we didn't create anything of note, and Aalborg in truth looked the likelier to snatch a goal, but inevitably (as with all extra-times it seems) the last ten minutes were played almost at walking pace as both sides settled for the penalty shoot out.

Prior to Shay Given making his first save, I thought to myself that he didn't cut an imposing figure in goal for the shoot out, but his save put us ahead and credit to the penalty takers who hit some decent spot kicks and we now take our place in the final eight.

Clearly we have to improve on tonight's performance to have any chance of further progression, but whilst our away form in the league has been patchy, on our travels in Europe we have posted a decent record this season. By the time of the quarter finals we should also welcome back on or two of our injured players so the hope is that we are in better shape by then.

A definite warning tonight though, and hopefully one that hits home as we bid to get past the quarter final stage which has dogged us in recent times.