Georgia is still on Souness's mind

Graeme Souness will re-live some of his most bitter football memories when Newcastle face Dinamo Tbilisi in the UEFA Cup tonight.

The 51-year-old Scot was captain of the Liverpool team who travelled to Georgia during the 1979-80 season for a European Cup firstround game holding a 2-1 lead, only to lose 3-0 and go out 4-2 on aggregate.

"I only have bad memories of Tbilisi and I'm trying to push them out of my head," said the Newcastle manager.

"At that time they were the champions of all of Russia and were an excellent team and deserved to beat us.

"I think we were the favourites for the competition at that time and fully expected to win every game so it came as a little bit of a shock to us that we lost."

While Newcastle won their opening UEFA Cup Group D match 1-0 away to Panionios in Athens, Dinamo suffered a 2-0 defeat at home to French side Sochaux.

Souness said: "Tbilisi will offer a very different challenge from our domestic programme and we must be ready for the unusual happening.

"Dinamo have already lost in this competition so it's a win or bust situation for them but if we do things well tonight then we can beat them."