When Linfield await their opponents next season in Europe, David Jeffrey will be praying he escapes a trip to Denmark.

The Blues’ miserable record against Danish opposition continued with a 3-0 second-leg defeat to an impressive Randers outfit, superior in fitness and class.

But it was far from embarrassing, which the aggregate 7-0 hammering fails to suggest.

Goals from Rickie Olsen, Kasper Lorentzen and Soren Berg condemned Jeffrey’s men to their heaviest defeat in recent times as their Europa League campaign came to a grinding halt.

Linfield’s anticipated hangover following their first-leg drubbing was nowhere to be seen in the early stages as the Blues showed their intent on putting on a spirited show.

Goals were obviously the order of the day but not even the most ardent Blueman in Lurgan could dare believe the tie was about anything other than saving face.

And from the kick-off the Windsor Park men showed they were at least going to go down fighting, with Michael Carvill an early menace to the Randers backline.

While the Blues failed to create any clear-cut openings in the early exchanges, Carvill saw a dipping volley deflected behind for one of four quick-fire corners.

Jamie Mulgrew had Kevin Ellegaard scrambling across his line on 11 minutes with a powerful low drive from 25 yards but with the Danes’ keeper struggling to cover his far post, the ball flew past the upright.

It certainly was a confident start from the ‘home’ side. Billy Joe Burns, looking commanding in a holding midfield role, got forward at every opportunity and he was next to try his luck at clawing back the deficit.

He received the ball with his back to goal and in one movement, he turned and shot but his effort dipped just over the bar.

Just when it looked like the Blues could add to their early pressure however, defensive frailties struck on 20 minutes to put the tie beyond any lingering, far-fetched doubt.

Giant striker Marc Nygaard — who scored in Denmark last week — turned provider when he easily held off the marking of Steven Douglas before teeing up the on-rushing Rickie Olsen who had all the time in the world to side-foot past Alan Blayney from 10 yards.

In truth it was shocking defending and undid the tireless early enterprise.

Within two minutes of conceding the opening goal, summer signing from Institute, Philip Lowry, collected a pass from Mulgrew and bustled his way into the box but could only poke wide under the close attentions of the Randers defence.

The visitors could have doubled their lead on the half hour only for a last-ditch sliding block from veteran Blues skipper Noel Bailie to deny the towering Nygaard.

Jeffrey’s words of encouragement at the interval would have focused on keeping things tight and giving the fans something to cheer.

Within two minutes of the re-start, Mark McAllister almost scored their first goal of the new campaign.

The former Dungannon Swifts striker ghosted into the six-yard box but his snap shot from an acute angled was smothered by the advancing Ellegaard.

In similar fashion to the opening 45 minutes, it was the Blues who showed the willingness to get forward and push for a goal.

The Danes knew their progress was secure and were happy to take their foot off the gas and settle for counter-attacking.

On 51 minutes McAllister went close for the second time, heading Aidan O’Kane’s deep cross from

the left onto the roof of the net but within seconds the Blues were two down on the night, and six behind on aggregate.

Allan Jepsen sent a hopeful cross from the left into the penalty area and when Bailie’s attempted clearance rebounded to Lorentzen he added to his first-leg strike with a side-foot effort from 16 yards.

It was another goal which could, and should, so easily have been prevented.

But credit to Linfield. Instead of letting heads drop, they still went in search of the goal their industry probably deserved.

Mulgrew volleyed wide from the edge of the box before substitute Curtis Allen wasted the best chance of the game.

The recent acquisition from Lisburn Distillery found time and space in the box from O’Kane’s free-kick but with the goal at his mercy, he mistimed his glancing header and failed to make contact.

Jim Ervin cleared substitute Danni Konig’s weak effort off the line with 14 minutes remaining but the Danes completed the scoring with a third on 82 minutes.

Berg out-muscled O’Kane and side-stepped both Blayney and Bailie before slamming the ball into the net.

LINFIELD: Blayney, Ervin, Douglas, Bailie, O’Kane, Garrett, Mulgrew, Burns, Lowry, Carvill, McAllister. Subs: Addis, Gault, Curran, Miskimmon, Allen, McHugh, Gallagher.

Randers: Ellegaard, Olesen, Friberg da Cruz, Jepsen, Lorentzen, Berg, Beckmann, Damborg, Olsen, Nygaard, Fenger. Subs: Friis, S. Pedersen, Grahn, K.Pedersen, König, Fischer, Byskov.

Referee: Menashe Masiah (Israel).