The Norwegians are in the middle of their season - and are so far unbeaten - but they failed to find a way past a Linfield side with just one pre-season friendly under their belts.

Rosenborg enjoyed plenty of possession in the first half but proved unable to turn this into a credible threat and, indeed, it was the Blues who created the pick of the efforts created before the break when Robert Garrett produced a last gasp clearance from Mikael Lustig as well as an effort just over the bar from a tight angle.

Markus Henriksen did test Alan Blayney with a low effort but the 'keeper dealt with his effort comfortably.

Brian McCaul fired over from a Billy Joe Burns delivery early in the second half followed, a little later, by a Peter Thompson cross which Ghanaian World Cup star Anthony Annan was happy to clear.

Just before the break Markus Henriksen turned sharply in the box and aimed a low shot goalwards but it was straight at Alan Blayney.

Rosenborg threatened through former Tottenham Hotspur Steffen Iversen while Henriksen sent a curling shot towards the far post but, again, Blayney was equal to the threat.

However the visitors almost snatched an undeserved victory right at the end when Morten Moldskred looked certain to score only for veteran Blues skipper Noel Bailie to produce a heroic clearance to scoop the ball off the line.