Rovers drew a blank at Ewood as they had to settle for a goalless draw against Hibernian.

It was a game dominated by the home side, but they couldn't find a way past a stubborn Hibernian side.

New signing Franco Di Santo had a lively debut and had Rovers' best chance in the first half, but his bullet header was kept out by Yves Ma-Kalambay at point-blank range.

The visitors only chance of the game fell to Ian Murray at the end of the first period, but he put his header wide when well placed.

Rovers had all the chances in the second half, Roberts saw a shot well-saved whilst Pedersen, Samba and substitute Junior Hoilett all had efforts deflected wide as the game ended goalless.

Sam Allardyce gave a debut to new signing Franco Di Santo, the young Argentine starting up front alongside Jason Roberts as Benni McCarthy was ruled out with a twisted ankle.

Steven Nzonzi made his Ewood bow in the centre of midfield along side Keith Andrews, with Pedersen and Gallagher on the flanks. Whilst another Ewood debutant Lars Jacobsen started once again at right back, Martin Olsson started on the left. An ankle injury to Gael Givet meant Samba and Khizanishvili were the central defensive partnership.

Rovers could have been in front as early as the second minute when a dipping free-kick from Morten Gamst Pedersen was acrobatically pushed away by Hibernian goalkeeper Yves Ma-Kalambay. The Norwegian's 25 yard effort looked destined for the top corner until it was tipped wide.

From the resulting corner kick from Pedersen, Franco Di Santo attacked the ball at the back post but just couldn't connect to send it home.

But for a stunning save the 20-year-old loanee would have opened his account on five minutes. Meeting Lars Jacobsen's teasing cross, Di Santo powered a header goalwards but the Ma-Kalambay pulled off an excellent point-blank save.

Steven Nzonzi and Jason Roberts both saw efforts go wide, whilst at the other end, Hibernian's best player Merouane Zemmama saw a jinking run come to an end thanks to a fine tackle by Zurab Khizanishvili.

But it was from a Zemmama corner kick that Hibs had their only chance of the first half, the Moroccan's ball into the box was flicked on to Ian Murray at the back post but he somehow headed wide as the half ended goalless.

Both sides kept the same eleven at the restart, Franco Di Santo turning well on the edge of the area to shoot narrowly wide in the early second half exchanges.

A rising Morten Gamst Pedersen saw a header comfortably saved, but whilst that was a regulation stop the Hibs goalkeeper continued to keep Rovers at bay standing up well when Jason Roberts burst through to block his effort.

Just past the hour mark Rovers brought on Ryan Nelsen for Zurab Khizanishvili, Junior Hoilett for the impressive Franco Di Santo and Aaron Doran for Keith Andrews, with Canadian Hoilett immediately into the thick of the action when he used the run of Doran as a decoy but his shot from the edge of the area was blocked.

Moments later and a mix up at the back almost allowed Roberts in, Ma-Kalambay could only find Hoilett with his clearance but as he guided the ball back towards the unguarded net Souleymane Bamba slid in to divert the ball behind.

Two corners in quick succession almost saw the deadlock broken, but both Morten Gamst Pedersen and Chris Samba saw their shots at goal deflected wide.

Rovers fought until the end to get that elusive goal but it just wasn't to be. They have one further game to find their goalscoring touch ahead of the Premier League opener against Manchester City, that is this Saturday against Dundee United at Tannadice.

ROVERS: Robinson, Jacobsen, Samba (c), Khizanishvili (sub Nelsen 63 mins), Olssonl; Gallagher (sub van Heerden 83 mins), Nzonzi, Andrews (sub Doran 68 mins), Pedersen; Di Santo (sub Hoilett 63 mins), Roberts.

Subs not used: Warnock, Brown (GK), Diouf.

HIBERNIAN: Ma-Kalambay, McCann, Murray, Hogg, Bamba, McBride, Zemmama, Cregg, Nish, Rankin, Stevenson.

Subs: Flynn (GK), van Zenten, Thicot, Wotherspoon, Galbraith, Currie.

Booked: Andrews (Rovers), McCann (Hibernian)

Attendance: 5563