FULL TIME: SK Sturm Graz 0 Rovers 0 - A good workout for the squad on a hot day in Graz.
90 MINS: Standfest with a shot, Fielding saves, the ball slipping from his grasp and behind for a corner. The ball comes in from the left, but it is headed wide.
87 MINS: The fans are beating out a Samba tune now all very jolly.
86 MINS: Rovers almost break the deadlock, an Olsson ball into the area, Kalinic goes for it and a defender clears it off the line as Rovers claim it crossed the line.
85 MINS: Chimbonda makes way for Rovers, Phil Jones is back on.
84 MINS: Two more changes Schildenfeld is replaced by Hassler and Bukva is replaced by Kainz.
82 MINS: Great singing by the home fans, the tune is 'By the rivers of babylon' no idea of the words minds!
80 MINS: A cross from the right finds Mario Haas, the flag goes up immediately, Fielding claims the header regardless. That prompts more Haas related chanting from the home fans.
73 MINS: Three further changes for Graz, Burgstaller on for Feldhofer, Haas on for Szabics and Foda on for Kienzl. The home fans are happy that Mario Haas has come on.
70 MINS: A half chance for Bukva but he puts it wide. Thats the cue for a break with both teams and officials stopping for a drink. It would appear that everyone is drinking except me! Keith Andrews comes back on with Rigters making way.
69 MINS: The beer man is here again, this isn't fair "bier! bier!" he shouts. He should go over to the Rovers fans he'd do a roaring trade.
68 MINS: Rovers fail with their attempt at offside, the ball is squared to Szabics but he's well ushered by Chimbonda and can only lash the ball wide.
67 MINS: The Sturm Graz manager, the excellently named Franco Foda, is wearing a shirt and jeans, is he not hot?
66 MINS: Diouf drives forward onto Rigters, back to Diouf, then over to Judge who cuts into the area and shoots but it is just wide and bounces off one of those posts that hold up the nets behind the goals.
64 MINS: The home side make a couple of changes, taking off Kienast and Purcher. Ehrenreich and Muratovic coming on.
62 MINS: Fielding down sharply to save a close-range effort, I think it was from the lively number 11 Szabics
61 MINS: Rovers seeing more of the ball this half, Olsson crosses from the left but Rigters can't get to the ball and the 'keeper claims.
60 MINS: Big shout for the 30 or so Rovers fans away to my left baking in the afternoon sunshine.
52 MINS: The Rovers bar is rattled as Kienast lets fly, Fielding just gets fingertips to the ball.
47 MINS: So, Rovers are now lined up as: Fielding, Hanley, Chimbonda, Gunning, Olsson, Judge, Linganzi, Nzonzi, Diouf, Rigters, Kalinic. Mark Bunn, Alex Marrow and Aaron Doran have slight knocks and aren't involved, neither is Michel Salgado although he has been training out on the pitch.
46 MINS: You've gotta love how the stadium announcers overseas always pronounce the Rovers' players names correctly, there are plenty of clubs in England who fall down badly on that score. There's a cheer from the Sturm Graz fans as El-Hadji Diouf's name is read out, again, something you don't see in the UK!
46 MINS: Rovers make a host of changes as the second half gets underway.
Half time: Sturm Graz 0 Rovers 0 - Little pre-season fayre in full effect here in the Austrian sunshine.
45 MINS: I know its hot but the refreee blows for half-time 30 seconds early.
44 MINS: The internet died on me for a while there, Rovers have had better possession with Alan Judge getting round the back down the right on a couple of occasions but his crosses have come to nothing. Just as the net returned Keith Andrews let fly from 20 yards, the ball going just over the bar.
35 MINS: Rovers are forced into an early change as Chris Samba limps out of procedings. Alan Judge comes on, resulting in a reshuffle as Rovers move to four at the back.
33 MINS: Superb save by Robinson, a cross from the right finds Szabics in the area, Samba slides to block, Szabics sidesteps it and shoots but Robinson makes a brilliant one-handed save.
32 MINS: Dunn pings a pass out wide for Gunning to control, his cross deflects wide for a corner. Dunn takes, the 'keeper comes and claims.
29 MINS: "Get that Pascal" shouts Paul Robinson as a ball is played over the top, but neither Chimbonda nor his marker get anywhere near it.
26 MINS: There's a break in play as a Graz defender receives treatment for a head injury after a clash of heads with Chimbonda. Both sides use the opportuity to take on some fluids. Could do with a drink myself its roasting here.
25 MINS: Persistance from Rigters sees him win a corner. Dunn to the edge of the area, Samba heads it into the mix, Rigters with an overhead kick but he's flagged offside.
21 MINS: Keith Andrews with a first-time shot but he skews it wide.
20 MINS: First meaningful effort sees Graz's number 11, Szabics shoot, Robinson makes the save, the ball rebounds to Kienzl who sidefoots wide.
18 MINS: Dunn sees an attempted one-two with Hoilett break down and Graz race upfield, a cross from the left by Bukva just evades a Graz attacker in the six yard box.
17 MINS: Excellent block by Givet as Hozl shoots from just outside the area.
14 MINS: Dunn takes the free kick but the referee sees an infringement and the home side have a free kick.
13 MINS: Rigters has possession with his back to goal but can't shake off the close attentions of his marker and draws the foul
12 MINS: Long range effort from Kienast, again Robinson dives comfortably to claim.
9 MINS: Plenty of noise to my right as the home fans chant and drum.
8 MINS: Rigters turns in the area but his shot is blocked.
7 MINS: The home side advance through the middle in space, it is worked up to Imre Szabicss but he shoots poorly and wide. Incidentally
4 MINS: Dunn with a ball up to Roberts who turns well, he looks to poke the ball through to his strike partner Rigters but Graz clear.
3 MINS: Its a 3-5-2 for Rovers this afternoon, Givet, Samba and Jones are the defensive three with Gunning left wing back, Chimbonda right wing back. Andrews is the defensive midfielder with Hoilett and Dunn in front with Rigters and Roberts up top.
2 MINS: A tame shot from Weber is claimed easily by Robinson.
1 MINS: Dunn with the free-kick but it is low and flat and cleared, Andrews picks up the lose ball and plays it through to Roberts but he's flagged offside.
0 MINS: Rovers get the game underway, quickly getting a free-kick as Jones is fouled. Rovers are in their home kit, Sturm Graz in all black.
Teams:
GRAZ: Gratzei, Purcher (sub Ehrenreich 64 mins), Feldhofer (sub Burgstaller 73 mins), Weber, Holzl, Szabics (sub Haas 73 mins), Standfest, Kienzl (sub Foda 73 mins), Schildenfeld (sub Hassler 84 mins), Bukva (sub Kainz 84 mins), Kienast (sub Muratovic 64 mins).
Subs: Muratovic, Cavlina.
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 Nzonzi 46 mins), Roberts (sub Kalinic 46 mins), Hoilett (sub Diouf 46 mins), Rigters (sub Andrews 70 mins).
