Even a team with an embarrassment of riches would have been in difficulties with four injured strikers sitting at home, but last night Blackburn came achingly close to overcoming such a crippling handicap.

A first-leg goal down to a young Lyon team unbeaten in 13 matches and currently lying second in the French League, the manager Roy Hodgson had to field a side without Chris Sutton, Kevin Davies, Kevin Gallacher and Martin Dahlin.

Against all expectations, though, Blackburn did more than hold their heads up. Down 2-1 at half-time, they came out fighting and 10 minutes into the second half Christian Dailly slipped a perfectly judged ball through to Gary Flitcroft, who slid it home to put Blackburn level at 2-2, just short of what was needed to go through.

To increase their frustration Jason Wilcox was sent off 10 minutes from time for a second bookable offence.

Thrown on the defensive from the opening whistle, Blackburn had conceded a fatal free-kick as early as the third minute. Dailly brought down Alain Caveglia on the edge of the penalty area and the Lyon captain picked himself up to power a perfectly-struck shot past Tim Flowers.

Five minutes later the Blackburn goalkeeper saved from the Lyon playmaker Vikash Dhorasoo and his rattled defence were spared soon afterwards as Marco Grassi was ruled offside by the narrowest of margins.

But Blackburn kept piling forward with vigour if not a great deal of finesse, and 20 minutes in were rewarded with a precious away goal from their one serious attack of the first half.

Damien Duff floated a long ball across the area and Sebastien Perez, constantly active on the right, rose to meet it at the far post and head past Gregory Coupet.

The goal gave Blackburn new heart but it was not long before Lyon reasserted themselves.

But the French side had to wait until 10 minutes before half-time for their second goal. Jeff Kenna brought down the darting Bak just inside the penalty area and despite the defender's protests the referee pointed to the spot. Grassi made no mistake.

Lyon: Coupet, Carteron, Laville, Bak, Violeau, Grassi, Dhorasoo, Fournier, Caveglia (Cocard 27), Delmotte, Linares. Subs Not Used: Borrelli, Brechet, Malbanque, Job, Uras, Bassila. Booked: Carteron, Bak, Grassi. Goals: Caveglia 2, Grassi 35 pen.

Blackburn: Flowers, Kenna (Davidson 66), Sherwood, Peacock, Henchoz, Flitcroft, Wilcox, Duff, Perez, McKinlay, Dailly. Subs Not Used: Filan, Andersson, Johnson, Croft, Dunn, Taylor. Sent Off: Wilcox (80). Booked: Peacock, Kenna, Henchoz, McKinlay, Flitcroft, Wilcox. Goals: Perez 26, Flitcroft 56.

Referee: R Temmink (Holland).