BBC SPORT | Football | Uefa Cup | Venables issues Hapoel caution

Terry Venables has warned his Leeds side they face a tough task overcoming Hapoel Tel Aviv in the second leg of their second round Uefa Cup tie.

Harry Kewell
Kewell shows his delight at his goal
Despite beating the Israeli side 1-0 at Elland Road, Venables saw enough evidence to suggest Leeds will face a difficult return leg.

"We know it's going to be difficult because we saw just what they can do in the first half," said the Leeds boss.

Match report: Leeds 1-0 Hapoel Tel Aviv

"If you look at what Maccabi Haifa did to Manchester United (winning 3-0) this week - and this team is on a level with them - that speaks for itself."

Harry Kewell scored Leeds' winner in a game which saw them hit the woodwork three times as well as a Hapoel defender diverting the ball against the crossbar.

"That was a fair result," said Venables. "In the first half they [Hapoel] showed what they are capable of.

Even though we are playing in Italy, 1-0 is a good score for us against a good team in the Premier League

Hapoel coach Drar Kashtan

"They were very smart up front; they have technically very good forwards and midfielders.

"But I thought we snuffed them out in the second half and moved the ball a lot more quickly."

He added: "I did think it was going to be another one of those nights when we struck the woodwork for that third time. I thought we were never going to score."

Leeds keeper Paul Robinson made some vital saves for his side - and Hapoel coach Drar Kashtan believes the Elland Road stopper played a vital part in the game.

Have your say on the game

"He is the man of the match because he prevented three certain goals," said Kashtan.

Hapoel will play their second leg in the Italian city of Florence because of the unsteady political climate in Israel.

But Kashtan added: "It's unfair that we are playing outside Israel, because if we were playing in Tel Aviv in our own stadium then I think it would be something different."