It had all the makings of a nightmare pre-season tour.

Delayed planes, mammoth coach journeys, late kick-offs and a horrible pitch would have had Sam Allardyce pulling his hair out – and this was before Roma raced into an early 2-0 lead at Bolzano’s Marco Druso Stadium, Northern Italy.

By the end though, the satisfied Rovers boss could look back on a worthy exercise as he was given plenty to ponder in his side’s impressive 2-2 draw with the Serie A giants.

Roma went away with the meaningless trophy after Alan Judge's missed penalty gave them a 3-2 shoot-out win, but that did little to ruin Rovers' night.

Paul Gallagher’s cool 43rd minute strike will have done his Ewood Park future no harm, as he continues his last chance to salvage a Premier League career, while academy youngster Aaron Doran opened his account to equalise early in the second half.

While the non appearance of triallist Christian Vieri was a disappointment for the few travelling Rovers fans, they would have seen enough from their current squad to give further encouragement after Tuesday’s win at Cambridge.

Powerful strikes from Rodrigo Toddei and John Arne Riise saw Roma unjustly race into a 2-0 lead within 36 minutes, but it was Rovers creating the majority of the chances.

Keith Andrews was probably Rovers star performer in the opening 45 minutes, dictating play with a confidence seldom seen from him last season, while after the break David Dunn continued his comeback from injury with a strong display in a deep-lying midfield role.

The game at Bolano's picturesque Marco Druso stadium was, at times, more like a circus than a meaningful friendly, with a partisan Italian crowd cheering every Roma trick and the Serie A side trying all they could to oblige.

Jason Roberts started the game as Rovers’ sole striker although their 4-5-1 formation when defending was quickly converted into a 4-3-3 offensively – with Paul Gallagher and El-Hadji Diouf getting forward from the flanks.

Vince Grella, who picked up an early caution, partnered new boy Steven NZonzi in the centre of the park, while Roma boasted John Arne Riise, David Pizarro and Francesco Totti in their strong starting line-up.

Rovers almost shocked the stadium though on 16 minutes when Keith Andrews converted from close range, but NZonzi was flagged for offside as he volleyed Diouf’s free-kick across the face of goal.

Rovers tight middle three of Andrews, NZonzi and Grella refused to be daunted by their opposition, with Andrews particularly impressive as the furthest forward of the three.

NZonzi blotted his copybook though on 26, as he lost out to Rodrigo Taddei and the Brazilian brilliantly fired the ball past Jason Brown from 20 yards for the opener.

Gallagher was denied an equaliser by goalkeeper Artur on 34, after fine approach play down the right by Diouf, before Andrews’ 20-yard follow-up effort was well pushed away by the stopper.

Two minutes later though and Rovers were two down. Former Liverpool man Riise sent a bullet free-kick past Brown, after Givet had hacked Okaka down when he was clear on goal.

Warnock was the next to go close for Sam Allardyce’s men with a powerful 20-yard volley, which was again well dealt with by the Brazilian Artur.

Rovers’ deserved breakthrough finally came on 44 minutes, when Gallagher coolly converted after Roberts had drawn Artur out of position before pulling the ball back.

Allardyce made the expected host of changes at the break, with just Warnock, Brown, Diouf and Jacobsen retaining their place in the side.

Warnock though only lasted four minutes, as he worryingly limped off to be replaced by Martin Olsson.

Allardyce stuck to his 4-3-3 formation, and it paid dividends on 52 , as Treacy’s deep cross from the right was headed back across goal by Diouf and Doran was on hand to fire home the equaliser, his first goal for Rovers.

Brown then tipped Ahmed Barusso’s free-kick onto the bar, while Doran was denied by keeper Doran after Morten Gamst Pedersen’s through ball.

ROVERS STARTING XI: Jason Brown, Lars Jacobsen, Stephen Warnock, Gael Givet, Chris Samba, El-Hadji Diouf, Keith Andrews, Vince Grella, Steven NZonzi, Paul Gallagher, Jason Roberts.

ROVERS Second half: Jason Brown, Lars Jacobsen, Stephen Warnock (Martin Olsson 50), Ryan Nelsen, Zurab Khizanishvili, El-Hadji Diouf (Morten Gamst Pedersen 61), Aaron Doran, David Dunn, Alan Judge, Keith Treacy, Benni McCarthy.

ROMA: Artur, Cassetti, Mexes, Riise, Guberti, Taddetti, Brighi, Pizarro, Antunes, Totti, Okaka