How are Midtjylland feeling about all this anyway? Do they sit back and hold an away-goal lead? 

So far it's Saints who've shown more initiative and adventure, as you'd expect. 

But that's really not saying much. One for the purists?

There's not a lot of noise around the ground so far tonight, that's for sure. 

You can hear the ball stop dead as it slaps on to Graziano Pelle's thigh. 

Former Southampton manager Dave Merrington on BBC Radio Solent : "Saints were very unfortunate not to score. It was a good header from Fonte.

"Rodriguez then did well for the chance to Ward-Prowse. Pelle and Rodriguez are going to be a handful up front.

"Saints have two good chances and really should be leading."

Now when Midtjylland press forward for the first time since their two long throws Southampton sit right back. 

'Go on and have a shot from range,' they say. Midtjylland oblige, twice, and neither's any good. Oriol Romeu is there putting the pressure on in front of what's now a back five.

Are Southampton going to regret not taking one of those early chances? 

Looks like there's plenty more to come from them - Saints are having all of the ball so far.

Close again from Saints! James Ward-Prowse sees a shot blocked after a fast counter - two very good opportunities in the matter of minutes. 

It was a lovely cross-field pass from Graziano Pelle to find Jay Rodriguez - and his cut-back found Ward-Prowse. 

They're looking up for this, Southampton. But should Rodriguez have shot? A Marco van Basten-esque volley into the far corner?

Ronald Koeman's set his side out with wing-backs tonight by the looks of it. 

Jay Rodriguez has their first foray forward and wins a corner - Jose Fonte throws himself at the ball and it's headed off the line!

One match away from the Europa League group stage then. 

Saints need to score, or else they're out. A 1-1 draw, and it's extra-time, maybe pens. 

The home side have gone all route one already - two long throws straight into the Saints box. 

We are under way. 

There's a bloke hanging around in a dodgy Hummel tracksuit in the tunnel as some seriously pumping 'crunch time' music belts out around the ground. Very Danish? 

It's not quite crunch time yet though - kick-off a few minutes away.

About 500 Saints fans have made the trip.  

As ever we'd love to hear from you this evening. Are Southampton going through?

You can tweet us using #bbcfootball,, external or text in on 81111 from a UK mobile.

Adam Blackmore
BBC Radio Solent sports editor

"The start of a crucial period on and off the pitch for Southampton begins with an awkward second leg clash with the Danish champions FC Midtjylland.

"Ronald Koeman's side know they need to score to have any chance of progressing into the group stages, and that clarity may help them as they look to impose themselves on inferior opponents. 

"But putting a good 90 minutes together is something Saints have failed to do in their six matches so far in August, and they cannot afford to be careless in possession like they have been so far this month.   

"If they play with a high tempo and find the authority they possessed last season, they should still go through. If not, the pressure will mount ahead of Sunday’s Premier League match with Norwich and the transfer deadline."

Here's the team news:

Midfielder Victor Wanyama, linked with a move away from St Mary's, did not travel because of a stomach infection.

Forward Sadio Mane, a target for Manchester United, starts on the bench after picking up a knock in last Sunday's goalless draw with Watford.

Southampton : Stekelenburg, Martina, Fonte, Caulker, Yoshida, Targett, Romeu, S. Davis, Ward-Prowse, Pelle, Rodriguez. 

Subs: K. Davis, Cedric, Long, Mane, Tadic, Reed, Juanmi.

Midtjylland XI:  Dahlin, Bach Bak, Hansen, Sviatchenko, Lauridsen, Sparv, Sisto, Andersson, Poulsen, Royer, Rasmussen.

Subs: Andersen, Romer, Olsson, Onuachu, Pusic, Hassan, Banggaard.

Dutch club Vitesse Arnhem were brushed aside (5-0 on aggregate) in the Europa League third qualifying round, but tonight's opposition - the Danish champions - proved they are no pushovers in the first leg at St Mary's last week.

At 1-1, this is what you might call delicately balanced. 

It's not what Ronald Koeman's calling it though. 

"If we play on our level, doing less mistakes in possession, if we press and play more direct, I’m totally confident we can reach the European group stage," the Dutchman said. 

"It’s really European football if you reach the group stage because you have European football until December. We don’t want that to stop in August. We know what we have to do.”

Image source, Getty Images

Image source, Getty Images

Kevin Phillips, Graeme Le Saux, Fabrice Fernandes, James Beattie, Rory Delap.

Stellar names, all, but what else do they have in common?

They played as Southampton were dumped out of the old Uefa Cup at the first hurdle by Romanian club Steaua Bucharest back in October 2003. 

Saints fans had to wait another 13 years to see their side in Europe again, and now Danish champions FC Midtjylland stand between their team and the Europa League proper.

Can Ronald Koeman's side do it?