In the end Town could count themselves unlucky not to take a lead back to Moscow for the second leg next week. However, for much of the game it looked like the Russians would run out the winners. Titus Bramble was both hero and villain and Marcus Stewart missed a first half penalty.

Town lined up as predicted without Martijn Reuser and with Pablo Couñago making his first start. Jermaine Wright replaced Reuser in midfield with Finidi George playing on the left and Wright starting in his more familiar role on the right.

Town dominated the early stages but the first real shot came on 5 minutes to Torpedo, Kormiltsev having a shot saved easily by Sereni.

Marcus Stewart had a shot from the edge of the area a couple of minutes later which was saved by the keeper. Finidi George hit a good cross from a Stewart lay-off and Pablo got close to it.

But after 13 minutes things went wrong for Town. Bramble played a bad pass, as so often this season, to a Torpedo player who played the ball forward and one pass later top scorer Vyazmikin had placed the ball past Matteo Sereni.

It was a blow Town would take some while to recover from and the Russians, defensive much of the time, showed some good touches. However, at the back keeper Berezovsky was flapping at crosses, particularly one from a freekick which ended up with Finidi George hitting the ball over the empty net whilst grounded at the edge of the area.

Town were getting chances without ever really looking at their best. As on Saturday passes were going astray and once again the crowd began to get frustrated.

Pablo Couñago went close with a couple of headers before Sereni saved from Kormiltsev. At the other end the keeper, showed his tendency to puch at everything when he two-fisted a low Stewart cross away from his near post.

On 34 Town were handed what cold have been a huge life-line by excellent referee Orhan Erdemir. Pablo and defender Lukhvich challenged for a ball played into the box. Suddenly the whistle went and the ref was pointing to the spot. It appeared that Lukhvich had pulled Pablo's shirt and it was a fantastic chance for the Blues to get back into the game. Up stepped the normally reliable Stewart and whacked the ball to the left of the keeper and wide of the post.

Town kept pushing forwards but a goal wouldn't come. Finidi George headed against Marcus Stewart and Jim Magilton hit a shot over the bar from the edge of the area. George also had a go at goal before the half-time whistle went.

The second half saw the introduction of Jamie Clapham for John McGreal. Clapham went to left-back and Hreidarsson to centre-half.

Clapham got in a good cross early on which just failed to come to Stewart. Finidi George also almost found Stewart with a cross after a good run down the left.

On 50 Titus Bramble, trying to atone for his earlier error headed a corner over the bar before Clapham, getting a lot of early action, hit a shot wide.

Richard Naylor replaced Pablo Couñago on 59 to try and add a bit more physical presence to the attack. Despite looking dodgy on more than one occasion the Russian defence had done pretty well against Stewart and Couñago.

Kormiltsev had another chance on the hour after more shaky defending from Town. His shot was blocked by Hreidarsson who had been turned by the Torpedo player.

The Torpedo crowd went wild on 67 when they thought they had scored a second. Matteo Sereni saved a shot from Shirko and Vyazmikin followed up. Sadly for the visitors the linesman's flag was up and the goal was ruled out. This led to uproar amongst the Torpedo fans and a bit of aggro between them and the Town stewards, who rushed from throughout the stand to the small section, to keep the small number of Russian fans in check.

Martijn Reuser replaced Chris Makin and went to left-wing. Finidi George switched to the right and Jermaine Wright went to an unfamiliar right-back role. Town now enjoyed their best period and, ironically, it was with more direct football. Clearly the Russians are not happy with high balls pumped in, especially goalkeeper Berezovsky who never looked comfortable when a good cross came in. Unfortunately too many of them were rather lacking in quality.

On 70 Richard Naylor hit a shot wide from a George pass before Magilton hit a shot at the keeper.

Jamie Clapham got booked for a rather innocuous foul and the player spent several minutes lying on the floor wasting time. Eventually he was moved from the pitch from where he swiftly rejoined the game.

Town continued to press and continued to have chances, the best was a Finidi George header which the keeper did very well to save. The Nigerian slipped in at the near post and directed his header goalwards. The Blues were not going to give up their unbeaten European home record easily and they were certainly showing commitment to the cause.

Finidi George was close again with a header on 78. His header was trapped between the keeper's legs and appear to some to have crossed the line. With the keeper failing to put his hands on the ball Stewart decided to take action and tried to lash the ball home from between the goalie's legs. This caused a minor outbreak of handbags which was swiftly sorted out.

Then with five minutes left Titus Bramble atoned for his first half mistake. A long ball was knocked into the box which the defence failed to deal with. Finidi George held the ball up and knocked it into the path of Bramble who hammered the ball home hard and low left-footed.

Town now well and truly had the bit between their teeth. Jamie Clapham hit a shot from the edge of the area which took a deflection and came off the post leaving the keeper stranded for a moment. Naylor came in from the right and from a tight angle slipped the ball over the keeper and off the bar.

It was that sort of night, Town could have had a hatful and yet they could easily have lost. There were more chances in the last ten minutes (including four minutes injury time). A Martijn Reuser cross from the right ran almost along the goal-line but just in fromt of Stewart. Matt Holland hit a final shot wide.

A draw then and an important away goal for the Russians. Can Town win the second leg as they must? If they show the spirit and perseverence that they showed in the second half they have more than a chance. The crosses need to improve as that seems an area where the keeper at least is not at his best. For long periods the Russians were very defensive and Town always have trouble against sides like that. Perhaps with the onus on Torpedo at the Luzhniki Town might get their natural game going more effectively. We'll see next week.

Sereni, Makin (Reuser 67), Hreidarsson, Bramble, McGreal (Clapham 46), Holland, Magilton, Wright, George, Stewart, Couñago (Naylor 59).

Att: 21,201

Photo: Action Images

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