NEW signing Jason Roberts continued to impress as Blackburn Rovers drew with Hamburg in Austria last night.

The £2.2million capture from Wigan scored on his debut against Accrington Stanley last Wednesday, and he set up the goal that put Rovers into the lead against the German side.

Roberts, who started the game despite a slight groin strain, put a great flick into Morten Gamst Pedersen and he rifled home a 25-yard right-foot effort that flew into the top corner of the net.

That goal looked to have given Rovers a platform to build on in thegame but a lapse of concentration allowed the Bundesliga side to level just ten minutes after the restart through Besart Berisha and that was how the scores remained at full-time.

There was also a first pre-season outing for Steven Reid who was able to get through 90 minutes after the midfielder had missed the previousfriendly match with a back injury.

Trialist Didier Agathe was once again given a chance to impress manager Mark Hughes, the Frenchman featuring for seventy minutes.

Rovers forced a second minute corner which they almost converted, Pedersen's in-swinger was goalwards by Roberts but goalkeeper Stefan Wachter blocked the effort.

The tackles flew early on with both sides eager to ensure that the game retained a competitive edge as the game ebbed and flowed from end to end.

On 28 minutes Pedersen was inches away from putting Rovers into the lead from a Robbie Savage free-kick, the midfielder just failing to connect with the Welshman's curling kick.

Rovers' goal came on 35 minutes and it was the kind of strike that had both sets of supporters applauding. The move started with Zurab Khizanishvili playing a high ball up to Jason Roberts, his headedflick was anticipated by Pedersen and the Norwegian international hit a stunning right-footed strike on the half-volley that 'keeper Wachtercould do nothing about as it rose into the top-corner of the net.

Mark Hughes' side should have doubled their lead three minutes later as Rovers broke quickly from a Hamburg corner but Robbie Savage fired over from Steven Reid's cross.

Rovers continued to press home their advantage ending the first half strongly, Agathe's first foray into the opposition half almost resulted in a goal, the former Celtic man slipping the ball through to Roberts but this time Wachter blocked the shot with his feet.

On the stroke of half-time Roberts saw an effort flash just wide after Gallagher had flicked the ball on.

Rovers got caught down their right as Sidney Sam cut into the area to set up a simple header for Albanian Berisha to level with a downward header.

The remainder of the game saw Rovers lose their edge somewhat due to a host of substitutions that followed in the final half hour.

Ten minutes to go and it was a typical Tugay pass that almost saw Rovers regain the lead, the former Turkish international lofted a ball over the top that played Jonathon Douglas in, but the Irishman couldn't get the ball around the goalkeeper who made a fine save.

There was a brief flurry of excitement for the Hamburg fans in the final moments of the game, Alexander Laas's free-kick clipped the top of the wall and looped over Friedel but over the net and from the resulting corner kick Rene Klingbeil saw his low drive cannon off the foot of the post.

It was a let-off for Rovers, but one they certainly deserved in this entertaining encounter.

ROVERS: Friedel, Agathe (sub Peter 70 mins), Todd (c) (sub Matteo 87mins), Khizanishvili, Gray (sub McEveley 55 mins), Savage (sub Tugay 64 mins), Bentley (sub Douglas 64 mins), Reid, Pedersen (sub Treacy 75 mins), Gallagher (sub Jeffers 55 mins), Roberts (sub Kuqi 75 mins).

Attendance: 2,000