Blackburn Rovers continue to step up their pre-season preparations in Germany, where they are currently on a 10-day training break.

A goal from Morten Gamst Pedersen earned them a 1-1 friendly draw with Hamburg on Sunday evening, and manager Mark Hughes was encouraged by the way his players performed against a side that will be competing in the Champions League next season.

"I was very pleased," said the Rovers boss.

"It was a good standard, good opposition and I was especially pleased with our performance in the first half..

"Obviously, the second half was more an exercise in getting some game time into the vast majority of the squad, so we weren't as dominant as we were in the first half.

"But I thought we were excellent in the first half, we really moved the ball round well and caused them lots of problems.

"I think we acquitted ourselves well, I didn't see any difference whatsoever in the fitness of the two sides - in fact, I felt we finished the stronger.

"I think the lads enjoyed it, they were up against good opposition and because of that they raised their game again, which is what we want at this stage of the season."