HELSINGBORGS coach Nanne Bergstrand admitted ahead of tonight's UEFA Cup clash with Ipswich: "The first 15 to 20 minutes are so vital for us."Bergstrand expects to have to weather an early storm from the home side.

By Dave Allard

HELSINGBORGS coach Nanne Bergstrand admitted ahead of tonight's UEFA Cup clash with Ipswich: "The first 15 to 20 minutes are so vital for us."

Bergstrand expects to have to weather an early storm from the home side.

"Crowds over here force teams to go at a very high tempo early on and that opening period will be so crucial," he said.

"We have played away in the past in Europe and done very well, hopefully we can do so again.

"To score a goal would be so good for us, but we know we are up against a team that play in the best league in the world and are very good passers.

"But we are a side that have a reputation as being one of the best passing teams in Sweden.

"We know we face a testing evening against an Ipswich side that did so well in their league last season."

Ipswich chief George Burley will give a fitness test to striker Alun Armstrong who has been receiving treatment for a back problem.

"It's been an on-going thing with Alun and we'll have to see how he is," said the Blues boss.

"If we play at the top of our game we can win it, but Helsingborgs are a very good side and it will be difficult. I saw them play recently against Halmstad and they are a strong all-round team.

"We overcame Torpedo Moscow over two legs in the last round as our club went back into European action for the first time since 1982. Helsingborgs are a side who have a great deal of experience in Europe over recent years."

Burley added: "We are live on television again and the players will be giving their all in a bid to do England proud."