CHAMPIONS LEAGUE Levadia Tallinn (1) v Drogheda Utd (2)WITH AN air of quiet confidence attained from his wealth of experience in Europe, Ollie Cahill believes Drogheda United mustn't fear Levadia Tallinn as they defend their 2-1 first-leg lead in this first qualifying round tie.

Clonmel native Cahill is enjoying his 11th consecutive season in Europe and last week's game - in which he scored a vital equaliser - was his 35th in Europe, a record for a League of Ireland player.

A bad mistake led to the concession of a potentially fatal away goal at Dalymount Park. Cutting out basic errors and abiding to their game plan will be key if Paul Doolin's side are to go through to a second qualifying round clash with Dinamo Kiev next week.

"Levadia are a decent side with decent players and if you stand off them then they will play around you," said 32-year-old Cahill, fundamentally a left winger though he's played in central midfield and at left-back.

"So we must be very careful - we'll have a game plan and hopefully we can stick to it. Hopefully, that will be enough for us. If we let them play then they will hurt us - there's no doubt about that."

In an anxious first half they gave up a goal and two other good chances to Levadia in Dublin.

But Drogheda have drawn much comfort from their second-half dominance, when Fahrudin Kuduzovic completed the comeback with a winning goal on the night.

"We played very well in the second half and I thought we were playing well even in the first half," said Cahill. "It was a typical European game and we were feeling each other out for the first 25 minutes.

"They grabbed their goal after a mistake by us and then Dan Connor made a great save which came from a mistake further up the pitch. Overall, I thought it was a really good performance so we should take confidence from the game."

With no experience of defending a lead away from home, Drogheda are in unknown territory in more ways than one.

"There is a big difference between home and away legs and I expect them to be more physical and attack-minded at home. So we have got to be ready for that.

"We have good defenders and we have to keep a good shape to us. It won't just be a matter of sitting in and protecting the lead - if we get a chance to get forward and score a goal, we'll be going for it."

Doolin has striker Shane Barrett back fit and he should make the bench, leaving right-back Brian Shelley and midfielder Shane Robinson his only injury absentees.

"I think it's going to be a different game," said Doolin. "You don't really know if they have anything else, but at home fellows have their chests out and have 10 per cent more.

"Last Wednesday I felt everything was fine. For the first 25 minutes it was exactly what you'd be looking for. I think they had three chances from three mistakes we made. But the thing is, we can't afford to make that mistake again because one might be enough.

"I do feel in our team over the years that we've got goals in us whether it's the Eircom League away from home or Europe away from home.

"We've got to have a good shape to us. If there was ever a time that we'd need a defensive performance (this is it)."