Map in hand, the Celtic fans found their way to Dalymount Park on Thursday night, unfurled banners adorned with their hero's image and serenaded him with familiar terrace chants from his Glasgow days.

The Drogheda United fans, in turn, took particular delight in ridiculing the small congregation of hooped jerseys isolated on the far side of the ground.

"If you're only here for Larsson, f*** off home," they sang throughout the night.  But those Celtic supporters were there to see Henrik Larsson, the Helsingborgs captain whose opening goal in the 1-1 Uefa Cup qualifying tie has put the Swedes in the driving seat ahead of the second leg.

"I had my own little supporters club in the corner which was okay," said the former Celtic, Barcelona and Manchester United striker.

That congregation cheered his every touch, cheered his goal but were unmoved when Eamon Zayed restored parity early in the second half.

And their cheers were quickly drowned out as a sizable home support rallied to let Larsson know not everybody in Ireland salivates over his every touch.

"I don't think about it, "he said of his mixed reception in Ireland. "They had to cheer their own team and I didn't expect anything else."

Shoehorned into the players' tunnel under the old Dublin stadium, the media pack swamped the striker after the game. He was the meat in a dictaphone sandwich.

One radio reporter in particular tested Larsson's patience as his microphone briefly threatened to floss teeth.

Larsson, in mid flow of questioning, reared up, eyeballed the journalist, who briefly stood down his recording device only to test the boundaries of personal space once again, just seconds later.

The Helsingborgs captain has been ruled "prickly" by some scribes down the years but, despite another steely glare, toughed out this particular irritation and  offered his thoughts on a game he feels his side should have won.

"It was a battle as we expected," he said.  "We knew they (Drogheda) would play the long ball, fight for the second ball and look to get into the box.  They played their way and done it good.

"The tie is fairly even still. It's going to be a battle again in Sweden, it's going to be interesting.  We've never been the favourites.  They're a good team and have a good idea of how they want to play."

"I'm under no illusions," the 35-year-old added.  "The Swedish league is not one of the best leagues in Europe either.  I think the leagues are very competitive."