FC Midtjylland 0 City 1 (agg 1-1 after extra time, City win 4-2 on penalties)

Could we have made that any closer?

I did predict that it would be tight and tipped us to go through on away goals, but didn't imagine it would be as nail biting as that.

Stuck in the office, I was in the hands of the BBC live text commentary and it didn't make for pretty reading (as don't most of the subsequent match reports) but managed to find a TV and catch the penalty shoot-out - which was certainly a nervy affair.

So often when a penalty is missed, the very next one is saved and it was a crucial stop by Hart (albeit it a generous height for him) and we never looked back as we sealed our place in the first round proper.

Hopes that we would build on the West Ham performance were not quite realised though and despite the signing of Wright-Phillips, there is still plenty for Mark Hughes to get to grips with as it has to be said over the two legs our opponents (who realistically we should have cruised past) can count themselves unfortunate to say the least.

Still, we are in tomorrows draw and we will see who that brings, although unless someone can correct me, we are not seeded so may well land a tricky tie to navigate to get through to the group stages of the competition.

Reaction

"It's a bit of a lottery with penalties but we're delighted we've overcome this hurdle.

Hughes added: "You're always relieved. There are no easy games; it's a cliche but in Europe there aren't. Look at the events of last night with Liverpool.

"We showed character. I saw qualities and values that I liked tonight."

>>Mark Hughes.

Reports

CITY goalkeeper Joe Hart was the hero as they fortuitously progressed to the UEFA Cup first round with a penalty shoot-out victory over FC Midtjylland. >>MEN.

Manchester City can look forward the Uefa Cup first round draw in Monaco after they survived European elimination courtesy of goalkeeper Joe Hart’s penalty-saving heroics and an 89th minute own goal from FC Midtjylland’s unfortunate Danny Califf. >>telegraph.co.uk.

Goalkeeper Joe Hart was Manchester City FC's hero as his two penalty shoot-out saves earned the English Premier League club a place in Friday's UEFA Cup first round draw at the expense of FC Midtjylland. >>uefa.com.

Manchester City have made it to the Uefa Cup - but only by the slenderest of margins after a huge stroke of luck in Denmark. >>guardian.co.uk.

Manchester City came through a penalty shoot-out as they scraped into the first round of the Uefa Cup, thanks to fine performance from Joe Hart, the England Under-21 goalkeeper. >>times online.

FC Midtjylland open thread

Given that most of us will likely be at work tomorrow when the game is on, I'll leave this thread open for any updates, news or comments throughout the game.

FC Midtjylland prediction

Buoyed by the confidence on the victory over West Ham, I'm sure most fans would be anticipating a succesful path into the next round but perhaps it is worth bearing in mind that a degree of over confidence was responsible in part for our downfall in the first leg.

Our opponents are clearly not the side that they were first perceived to be when the draw was made, but it is a game we should go on and win - especially with a couple of league games in between to fine tune team chemistry.

We have to be careful of not falling between two stools though in being too gung-ho in trying to overcome the goal deficit, yet not being too cautious in trying to not fall further behind, but a positive approach (as seen on Sunday against West Ham) is definitely the best policy.

With Elano pushed further forward just behind the lone striker, I feel this provides a far more creative formation and reports suggest Jo could come straight back into the team which will could be a bonus. Despite his concussion, the club website suggests Micah Richards could be fit, and if so, it could make for an interesting decision with Richard Dunne being available once again.

I do think we will go through tomorrow, but the ghosts of Groclin past still lurk ominously and it would be a real shame to end our UEFA Cup campaign at this premature stage. It may be a tricky game, but I tip us to go through - although it may take extra-time or away goals to do so.

City 0 FC Midtjylland 1

A week which saw turmoil engulf the club off the field got a whole lot worse on Thursday evening as our bid to try and create some positive headlines was blown apart as we fell to a disastrous 1-0 defeat to leave our UEFA Cup hopes hanging by a thread.

As this fixture drew closer, it did become apparant that our opponents would provide a stronger test than first thought when the draw was initially made but we appeared to get cold to a certain extent by a side who had the drive, pace, creativity and desire it was plain to see that we lacked - something that Mark Hughes gave them credit for following the game.

Plaudits aside, it was a game that we really should not have been beaten in and the real worry on the eve of the Premier League campaign is the manner of the defeat in that Petrov aside we looked bereft of attacking ideas and intent.

Hughes sprung a suprise in attack by partnering Daniel Sturridge with Felipe Caceido - a player who had seen limited action in pre-season, and despite his full fitness still being in question I would have liked to have seen Bojinov have started the game, and it maybe that Hughes expected to get through without having to risk him ahead of the Villa game?

Ben Haim at left back also looked a bad move as it appeared to be a move simply to fit him into the side and make an easy decision rather than leave out one of Corluka, Dunne or Richards.

The 4-5-1 was derided at times last season, with Sven receiving a lot of criticism over his adherence to the formation, but with the 4-4-2 adopted by Hughes we have seen so far, we look light in the centre of midfield as neither Hamman, Gelson or (the disappointing) Johnson seemingly able to get a grip of the game.

The 4-4-2 of course means the deployment of Elano on the right, a move which I do not subscribe to and one which I don't believe benefits us in any way. Petrov aside, we had no creativity on Thursday, and it needs Elano to be moved into a more central position in the second leg as we will have to go with a more positive approach.

Of course we are in a great deal of trouble in this tie and our hopes of a sustained run in the competition are in doubt, but a one goal lead is not insurmountable by any means and the hope is that with another two weeks of work (with a pair of Premier League games) under our belts, we can turn in a far greater performance to overturn the deficit and make up for the disappointment of Thursday night.

Reports

Mark Hughes will always remember his first 90 minutes at Eastlands as Manchester City's manager. It was the one where his team was booed off; the one where he tore down the tunnel at half-time to read the riot act to a team that was being outplayed by a club nobody in Manchester could spell, let alone had heard of. >>telegraph.co.uk

Whoever said that off-field troubles do not transmit to football players should have been at Eastlands last night as Manchester City were humbled by a group of unknowns from Denmark. >>mail online.

Hughes will surely not have anticipated hearing his team being barracked by their own fans 20 minutes into their first game inside their own ground. Visibly angry, he could be seen shaking his head in disgust, shocked by his players' efforts, and will certainly be looking for a drastic improvement, to say the least, when City travel to Denmark's Jutland peninsula for the return leg on August 28. >>guardian.co.uk

BRITISH forces have not always fared well in Jutland, as Admiral Sir John Jellicoe found out to his cost in the famous naval battle there 92-years ago.

That bad form will have to change in two weeks’ time if City’s Euro adventure is not to come to an abrupt halt in northern Denmark. >>men.co.uk

FC Midtjylland preview

A welcome relief given the events of the past week to actually be able to focus on matters on the pitch as opposed to dealing with problems off it.

Whilst the backdrop to this game has of course been well documented, I'm sure Mark Hughes is looking for the side to banish all thoughts of a distraction and effectively win the tie tomorrow evening and has been bullish in his comments to the press in the build up.

Despite Darius Vassell joining the injury list, we hope to welcome back Martin Petrov back from injury and Vedran Corluka (back from White Hart Lane?) to the squad from the side that defeated Milan last Saturday.

It remains to be seen who Hughes will opt for in attack, or even if we will persevere with the 4-4-2 given the injuries in attack but both Daniel Sturridge and Ched Evans have proved themselves capable so far, whilst Valeri Bojinov has impressed whenever I have seen him.

Elsewhere, the interesting decision will come in defence, where Hughes will have to choose two from Corluka, Dunne, Ben Haim and Richards, whilst I expect Ball to get the nod over Garrido at left back.

The midfield is not overly blessed and clearly does need reinforcing, so I don't expect any surprises when the starting line up is announced.

First impressions when the draw was made were that we should easily progress, but FC Midtjylland have started their domestic campaign impressively, currently topping the Danish league, and they despatched Bangor City 10-1 in the first qualifying round and the Danes will be hoping to capitalise on the turmoil surrounding the club at present and they look to have goals in them.

Still, we should be expected to progress comfortably from the tie and we have progressed steadily through pre-season where we can really hit the ground running as the season really gets under way from tomorrow evening.

An early goal would be nice to settle the nerves that will undoubtedly be around, but whilst we may have to patient I expect us to come away with a 2-0 victory.

FC Midjtylland links

• Official site
• Wikipedia
• FC Midtjylland v Bangor City - YouTube highlights