Friendly: Hearts 1-1 Blackburn Rovers
From Hearts News at Tynecastle

Hearts and Blackburn shared spoils in this, the home side's final pre-season match at Tynecastle in front of 6,333 supporters.

Suso netted a first half opener for the Jam Tarts, only for Mame Diouf to equalise just before the hour mark.

Jim Jefferies made  four changes from the side that faced Wolves on Tuesday night, with the manager keen to use his last pre-season match as another opportunity to rotate his squad.

The Jambos seemed keen not to start the match in the same vain as on Tuesday night and took the game to Blackburn early on. Arvydas Novikovas was looking lively and after a superb solo run he drove the ball low towards goal. The shot deserved better but zipped just wide of the post.

Keith Andrews nearly opened the scoring from a corner a few minutes later. The midfielder unleashed a fierce shot which left Balogh stranded, but Jason Thomson was on hand to clear the danger.

It was Suso who was to open the scoring and in spectacular fashion. The Jambos first pre-season goal at Tynecastle was a screamer of the left boot of the little Spaniard. He picked his spot and looped the ball into to the top left hand corner, rooting the Blackburn keeper to the spot. It might just have taken a nick off Ryan Nelson on the way in.

Hearts were playing well and Novikovas, Suso and Thomson were all finding space down the Blackburn flanks. The defence led by newly announced skipper Marius Zaliukas, was also in turn was thwarting the danger and presence of Morten Gamst Pedersen whose quality was clear to see.

The match continued in much the same vain after the interval. Craig Thomson could have put the Jambos two up within two minutes after what is becoming a trademark free kick. Rovers' keeper Mark Bunn set up his wall and took his position, but Craig had spotted a gap near post and almost saw the ball nestle in the top corner.

Blackburn introduced the on-loan Manchester United youngster Mame Diouf at half time and it was the Senegalese striker who netted the equaliser. Gamst Pedersen spotted Diouf in space and laid the ball into his path, Diouf calmly drilled the ball low past Jamie MacDonald.

The changes started to roll in thick and fast but both teams were looking for the winning goal. The introduction of Jonathan Toto gave the Tynecastle faithful what they had been waiting for, after the Cameroonian trialist bagged a hat-trick in midweek friendly.

It was Blackburn though who came closest to grabbing the winner, though, again it was Diouf but this time his header just looped wide.

This was a good competitive match for both sides and while Blackburn go on to face Celtic tomorrow, for Hearts it's all systems go for the season opener against St Johnstone next Saturday.

Hearts: Balogh (MacDonald 45); J Thomson, Barr, Zaliukas, Wallace; C Thomson, Black, (McGowan 69) Palazuelos, Novikovas (Templeton 69); Suso (Stevenson 80), Elliot (Toto 72)S. Subs not used: MacDonald, Jonsson, Bouzid, Mrowiec.

Blackburn: Bunn, Jacobsen, Olsson, Samba, Nelsen: Nzonzi, Hoillet, Andrews, Pedersen; El-HAdji Diouf, Blackman.

Referee: Craig Thomson