Slipshod City through

UEFA Cup round-up: Late goals in each half from Christian Negouai and Darren Huckerby saw Manchester City scramble to victory…

UEFA Cup round-up: Late goals in each half from Christian Negouai and Darren Huckerby saw Manchester City scramble to victory in a drab UEFA Cup qualifier with TNS Llansantffraid at the Millennium Stadium last night.

Kevin Keegan's under-strength side, did all that was required to record their 2-0 results and 7-0 aggregate victory but the manager will have been unimpressed at the performance of most of his team, who were made to work hard before advancing into tonight's first round draw.

Just as they had been fluid and exciting when they shot to the top of the Premiership at Blackburn on Sunday, so the Blues were ponderous and predictable in the Welsh capital.

But any European spies checking out prospective opposition ahead of today's first round draw would have struggled to find any area of worry such was the paucity of City's performance.

READ MORE

And, having entered the competition through the back door, Keegan knows his team will soon be heading for the exit door should they fail to improve on this shoddy show.

Meanwhile, two goals in as many minutes from Peter Ijeh just past the hour mark gave Swedish side Malmo a 2-0 win over Portadown last night - and a 6-0 aggregate success.

Coleriane suffered a heavy defeat in Portugal against Uniao Leiria, while Dundee eased into the next round with a four-goal win over Albanian side Vllaznia.

Goals from Nacho Novo, Juan Sara and Gavin Rae gave Jim Duffy's men an easy 4-0 victory on the night, and 6-0 on aggregate, and made sure they will be in the draw today.

Maccabi Haifa of Israel doubled their 3-0 advantage from the first leg in ousting Welsh minnows Cwmbran at the Kirat Eliezer stadium.