MINUTE by minute match action from last night's first round first leg UEFA Cup tie between Rovers and CSKA Sofia.

21:53: The ref blows and brings the end to what has to be a poor return to European football for Rovers.

FINAL SCORE: Rovers 1 (Grabbi) CSKA 1 (Dimitrov)

21:51: Goal kick to CSKA who make another change - I didn't see who lets face it, it wastes a bit more time for CSKA.

21:50: Time and support is running out for Rovers, even with the man advantage they just aren't playing well enough

21:49: CSKA number 23 finds himself alone against five Rovers defenders and he still manages to get a shot away before he's fouled.

The resulting free kick is not quite a Beckham special and Friedel saves comfortably.

5 mins of extra time

21:46: Three corners in quick succession signals Rovers intention not to settle for the draw - but are time and skill running out?

21:44: As the Rovers fans start to leave it's clear that the loss of faith in their team will be the ultimate winner.

21:43: 5 mins to go CSKA are definitly beating Rovers on yellow cards. This time it's sub, Pavlov.

21:41: Yet another yellow for CSKA, this time number 5, Yanchev, for yet another challenge on Gillespie.

The resulting free kick is swung in but somehow nobody can get anything on it.

21:40: CSKA goalscorer, Dimitrov is down and not getting up. Rovers kick the ball out in order for CSKA to bring on number 19, Pavlov for Dimitrov

21:38: Just before Danns came, Hignett swung the ball from the right and Danns forced the keeper to save his header.

10 mins to go the score is 1-1 but Rovers now have a man advantage.

21:36: It always happens as something happens on the pitch - anyway.

CSKA are now down to 10 men as number 6, Tomovski, continued his onslaught on Gillespie - a second bookable challange.

Each side also made chances. Rovers brought on Berg for Danns and CSKA swaped number 20, Brito, for number 23, Gargorov.

21:24: The score remains 1-1 as the game settles down half way through the second half.

21:21: CSKA's keeper finally gets his just rewards as he is booked for placing the ball over the six yard line.

21:19: 20 mins gone and Rovers make a change - Grabbi makes way for Ostenstad

21:18: Dunn makes a big mistake on the Rovers 18 yard box to let CSKA in, but they save his blushes by shooting wide.

21:16: After a good move by Rovers, Neill gets the ball runs at the CSKA defence and gets in a shot - unfortunately it whistles inches past the post.

Meanwhile Danns full Rovers debut sees him get a yellow card for a wild challenge on Tomovski

21:14: CSKA are on the attack after yet another foul goal kick from Petrov, placing the ball a foot over the six yard line.

21:12: 10 mins gone and it's still 1-1.

The match seems to have turned into a game of pinball with the ball bouncing around everywhere and going nowhere.

21:10: CSKA number 2, Georgiev is down but manages to get up, just as the strecher team get there.

It's seems Premiership tackling is taking it's toll.

21:08: Rovers on the attack but Danns gets in Dunn's way.

CSKA number 6, Tomovski gets a yellow for bringing down Hignett.

21:06: It's Friedel's goal kick after a long cross beats everybody in the box.

1-1 5 mins gone in the second half

21:04: Rovers get an early corner which comes out to Tugay, but he heads back and puts into row z

21:03: No changes at half time as CSKA get the second half underway

21:02: Half time and the score is level at 1-1.

Souness would surely have been hoping to have more of an advantage at half time but nothing can be taken away from CSKA.

20:47: Into injury time and CSKA push forward but Rovers are back in numbers and the defenders do their job.

20:45: 1-1 and Grabbi is given onside when he looked off - go figure!

He lays it back to Dunn who instead of shooting lays it off to Tugay - too much time is taken and the CSKA defenders take control.

With 3 minutes of added time both teams try and get advantage at the break

20:42: CSKA on the attack again, the shot's blocked but they end up with a free kick after Tugay floors a CSKA player.

20:40: Grabbi runs onto a ball given up by the CSKA defenders he turns but slips, he gets a toe to it and it's crossed - Danns however makes no attempt to head it home.

20:39: 5 mins to go and CSKA get their first corner - taken short and wasted, Rovers have the throw-in.

20:37: Rovers have again found their passing game, but only briefly and CSKA manage to regroup and start another attack.

20:35: Taylor plays a nice ball to Todd who crosses, weakly, but it comes off a defender for corner.

It's taken quickly and the chance is wasted.

20:34: 1-1 10 mins to go and things have calmed down a bit.

CSKA player 29, Gueye has just been booked for a challenge on Rovers 35, Danns.

20:31: Half an hour gone and this is getting rather exciting.

10 mins ago CSKA's number 8, Dimitrov, scored with well placed shot under Friedel. It has to be said against the run of play.

Rovers seemed to start to leave or get their half time pies early.

A rattled Rovers then equalised 5 mins later. Grabbi this time controlled in the box and slotted the ball home.

20:28: Rovers 1 CSKA 1 - just typical.

20:17: 15 mins gone and again the linesman flags Rovers offside, this time Grabbi who was again cleary onside.

20:16: Todd gets caught going backwards and has to pass to Friedel - he clears despite a CSKA striker closing down.

The ball is quickly fed into the CSKA half and Rovers get a free kick 20 yards out - it's curled in but easily collected by the keeper.

20:13: Grabbi clearly isn't use to starting from the openign whistle as he again fails to control the ball on the 18 yard box.

10 mins gone and Dunn sees his first notable shot goes over the bar.

Rover make an early substitution, with Gillespie coming on for Yorke. Either he's missing Cole or he's pulled something.

20:08: 5 mins gone and Yorke is flagged offside, yet he was clearly on.

CSKA surge forward from the free kick but the crossed ball is easily dealt with.

20:06: Rovers start the brighter with some good passing football

Yorke has come closest so far with a shot across the face of the goal.

20:05: Tonight's referee, B Coue of France, gets the game underway with Rovers kicking off.

19:55: Rovers Euro return kicks off tonight against CSKA Sofia, 8.00pm, with Souness hoping that his strikers can repeat his hat-trick agasinst CSKA back in 1981.

Rovers squad: Friedel, Neill, Tugay, Todd, Dunn, Grabbi, Johansson, Hignett, Yorke, Taylor, Danns

Subs: Mahon, Curtis, Gillespie, Ostenstad, Berg, Douoglas, Kelly

CSKA squad: Petrov, Georgiev, Galin, Yanchev, Tomovski, Dimitrov, Varbanov, Steffanov, Brito, Mukasi, Gueye

Subs: Yanev, Metodi, Sakiri, Pavlov, Gargorov, Zlatinov, Ivanov

Andy Cole is one notable absence from the Rovers line-up after picking up an inquiry last Sunday.