So our unbeaten run is at an end, but we are in the hat, and at the end of the day, that’s all that really matters. Or is it?

On Wednesday night we played a distinctly average, if not poor ailing Italian side with little flair, speed, strength or champions’ quality. And we had to rely on spot kicks to bail us out. Why?

We lack the killer instinct. The second leg should have been academic. We had four or five clear cut chances following RVP’s pen in the first leg. So the game in Rome should have been a dead rubber in truth. But in spite of this, a 1-0 lead from the home leg is still a good result.

Yet in the Stadio Olimpico, once again, no one in yellow was able to take the game by the scruff and kill off the frankly dreadful opponents that were Roma. Time and again our pretty one-touch passing had little or no end product. And when it did, RVP, and Toure, with that sitter in the final minute of normal time, failed to show the composure needed at this high level of competition.

Man Utd, Liverpool and Chelski, would have battered Roma four or five nil, no question. Roma’s lack of forward power meant they were just as unlikely to score again as we were, and their goal was only due to a moment’s lack of concentration from our centre halves who have been much improved of late.

Here’s hoping for a kind draw next Friday, but you just know it will be either Liverpool again or worse still Barcelona. Moan Utd will undoubtedly get Porto away first leg. Not that I’m suggesting that UEFA and Moan Utd are in collaboration, or anything!

If we are to progress to the semis we will need a 100% improvement on last night without question. And currently, hand on heart, despite our reasonable current domestic form, I can’t see it.

Even through my red and white tinted glasses.