Blackburn's flying start stalls as the Turks dig in

Graeme Souness believed Blackburn were never at the races in a 3-1 first-leg defeat by Genclerbirligi, but last night they hurtled out of the Ewood Park stalls like thoroughbreds.

Unfortunately, woeful finishing proved the handicap that allowed the Turks to survive an early onslaught to reach half time with their lead intact, after Rovers could easily have been three up inside 10 minutes.

Matt Jansen fired their first chance wide after four minutes with the goalkeeper stranded before Turkish defender Umit Bozkurt appeared to deliberately handle lively Brett Emerton's shot in the penalty area.

Then after David Thompson had hit the bar from Emerton's corner, striker Ciccio Grabbi - deputising for the injured Andy Cole - contrived to fire the rebound wide from close range. Manager Souness reshuffled his leaky defence, but Guinea striker Souleymane Youla, who scored twice in the first leg, fooled Garry Flitcroft only to scuff his shot hopelessly wide.

Thompson went on a run down the left early in the second half before rattling the bar with a right-footed drive, with the rebound eluding Grabbi.

Jansen finally broke the deadlock after 65 minutes from substitute Dwight Yorke's cross, but Rovers were caught napping a minute later when Steven Reid's error allowed Mustafa Ozkan to level.

Hearts booked their place in the draw for the second round - despite failing to find the net against Zeljeznicar in Bosnia. Craig Levein's men headed into the return leg with a 2-0 advantage and had been hopeful of killing of the tie with an early goal in Sarajevo.