Linfield draw comfort at home

Glenn Ferguson breaks free from Kutaisi defence

Full-time: Linfield 0-0 Torpedo Kutaisi

BBC Sport Online's Lyle Jackson at Windsor Park

Linfield may not have got the lead they wanted, but at least they have kept their Champions' League hopes alive.

Next week the Irish League champions will set off on an arduous 20-hour trip to Georgia knowing that a score draw would be enough to take them through to a lucrative tie with FC Copenhagen.

But it is a tall order.

In Wednesday's first leg Kutaisi, who won the league and cup double in Georgia last season, showed they are a more skilful side than Linfield.

We are all aware of the strength they possess but we will give it our best shot

  David Jeffrey

In front of their own fans at the Kutaisi Kiladze Torpedo Stadium, they will be expected to go through from this preliminary round pairing.

Linfield will have to travel without their big summer signing Justin McBride after his Blues debut lasted just seven minutes.

The former Glentoran winger, whose cross-city transfer was Irish League football's story of the summer, had to limp off with a pulled muscle in his left leg.

Linfield's other close season signings also got starts in David Jeffrey's line-up.

Former Glenavon skipper Darren Murphy played at right-back while Mark Picking, signed from Coleraine just before the Uefa deadline had an attacking role on the left.

Linfield boss David Jeffrey felt his side showed the Georgians too much respect in the first half.

But he added: "Our performance was commendable against a team who had been at a training camp.

"We handled them well in the second half.

"It is a huge task for us. We are all aware of the strength they possess but we will give it our best shot."

Substitute Jamie Marks fires over a cross

Linfield were on the back foot from the start as Kutaisi looked the more skilful side.

But the Belfast Blues, desperate not to give away an early away goal, kept things tight at the back.

Linfield gradually came out of their shell as they half wore on and they had two chances just before half-time.

Tony Gorman saw a deflected free-kick go just wide while McBride's replacement Jamie Marks put a free header wide.

There were few chances in the second half.

Linfield's best moment of danger was thwarted when Kutaisi keeper David Gvaramadze came out quicky to block Linfield's Northern Ireland international Glenn Ferguson.

LINFIELD: Robinson, Collier (sub N Kelly 87), D Murphy, Picking, W Murphy, R Kelly, Larmour, Gorman (sub Scates 82), Ferguson, McBride (sub Marks 8), Bailie.

TORPEDO KUTAISI: Gvaramadze, Abramidze, Khvadagiani, Kemoklidze (sub Ahhalhatsi 45), Todua, Makhviladze (sub Makhviladze 32), Didava, Akoflan, Asatiani, Ashvetia (sub Gancharon 82).

Referee: Jouni Hyytia (Finland). Attendance: 2,699.