Cooke’s Drogs look for right recipe to stun Malmo

Drogheda United return to the European stage tonight for the first time since 2008 when they host Swedish giants Malmo in Tallaght Stadium (kick-off 7.45pm).

Then it was Paul Doolin’s league champions who saw off Levadia Tallinn before going down in the second qualifying round against Henrik Larsson’s Helsingborgs, but the days of full-time football are long gone and it would be a major surprise if Mick Cooke’s charges overcome the former European Cup finalists over two legs.

Drogheda earned their place in this competition by finishing second in last year’s Premier Division, but they currently lie uncomfortably close to the relegation zone. Yet their form away from the league has been more encouraging, having won seven of their 10 cup games to date.