Blackburn Rovers F.C

Rovers and Sturm Graz played out a goalless draw in sweltering conditions at the UPC Arena on Saturday evening.

After a week of intense training at their high altitude Austrianbase Rovers ended their trip with a good workout in ninety degree heatagainst the Austrian Bundesliga side.

In a match of few chances, the best of them fell to Sturm Graz, Paul Robinson pulling off an outstanding one-handed stop to deny Imre Szabics in the first half, whilst Maceo Rigters went close with an overhead kick at the other end.

Rovers had started the match with a 3-5-2 formation with Chris Samba, Gael Givet and Phil Jones as the central defensive unit, backed by Pascal Chimbonda and Gavin Gunning as wing-backs. Keith Andrews, David Dunn and Junior Hoilett occupied the centre of midfield with Jason Roberts and Maceo Rigters up front.

Chris Samba played just 35 minutes after landing awkwardly but that was merely a precaution, Alan Judge coming on to replace the Rovers captain as they switched to a 4-4-2.

Sam Allardyce made a host of changes at the interval with all butChimbonda, Gunning and Rigters being replaced and it is was subgoalkeeper Frank Fielding who was quickly into the action, getting fingertips to a shot from Roman Kienast before the bar was suitably rattled.

But as the game wore on Rovers gained the upper hand, El-Hadji Diouf proving to be a particular nuisance to the Graz back line with his forceful attacking.

At the death Rovers nearly grabbed a winner, Martin Olssonsent a ball into the centre, Kalinic and Diouf both went looking for atouch but Thomas Burgstaller got back in time to clear off the line.

After the final whistle the squad wasted little time in jetting backto the UK, they'll spend the week training at Brockhall before a matchat the Highbury Stadium, the home of Fleetwood Town, is their next portof call.

SK STURM GRAZ: Gratzei, Purcher (sub Ehrenreich 64mins), Feldhofer (sub Burgstaller 73 mins), Weber, Holzl, Szabics (subHaas 73 mins), Standfest, Kienzl (sub Foda 73 mins), Schildenfeld (subHassler 84 mins), Bukva (sub Kainz 84 mins), Kienast (sub Muratovic 64mins).

ROVERS: Robinson (sub Fielding 46 mins), Chimbonda,Gunning, Samba (sub Judge 35 mins), Jones (sub Hanley 46 mins), Givet(sub Olsson 46 mins), Andrews (sub Linganzi 46 mins), Dunn (sub Nzonzi46 mins), Roberts (sub Kalinic 46 mins), Hoilett (sub Diouf 46 mins),Rigters (sub Andrews 70 mins).

Attendance: 3515