Hearts 1 - 1 Blackburn Rovers: Suso finds the net as Jambos draw

• Suso Santana (left) celebrates his opener with team-mates. Picture: SNS

HEARTS supporters received a glimpse of trialist striker Jonathan Toto in the pre-season friendly draw with Blackburn Rovers at Tynecastle. The Cameroonian replaced Calum Elliot in the second half and looked eager to impress manager Jim Jefferies.

Aged 20 and owner of a French passport, Toto is a product of the Metz youth academy and was granted his opportunity by Jefferies after impressing in a series of Hearts reserve friendlies last month. Another interested spectator on the day was prospective signing from Preston North End, Stephen Elliot, who took up position in the Tynecastle directors' box.

Goals from Suso and Mame Diouf were the most notable moments of a rather unremarkable game, played out at stereotypical pre-season friendly pace. However the hosts would have been encouraged by attaining parity with English Premier League opposition following Tuesday's resounding defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers.

After a subdued opening, Arvydas Novikovas sprung to life on 13 minutes with a meandering run and low shot which crept past the Blackburn goal. The Lithuanian's second effort was somewhat more wayward following Jason Thomson's cross. The visitors then served notice of their intent when Morten Gamst Pedersen's header from El-Hadji Diouf's cross forced Janos Balogh to tip over his crossbar. From the resultant corner, Jason Thomson executed a stunning clearance off the Hearts goal line from Keith Andrews' searing strike.

If that was impressive, Suso's opening goal was utterly magnificent. After he and Calum Elliot combined to dispossess Steven Nzonzi 25 yards from goal, the Spaniard lashed a swerving ball into the top left corner with his right foot and rendered Mark Bunn completely helpless. Moments later, Craig Thomson headed Lee Wallace's cross into the Roseburn Stand and Balogh collected a Chris Samba header before the interval.

Craig Thomson's free-kicks had proved devastating seven days previously against Millwall and he would have arced another set-piece into the net shortly after the restart had it not been for Bunn's right hand. There was little debating Hearts commanded the first hour of this encounter, however Mame Diouf equalised with relative ease on 60 minutes. From Lars Jacobsen's right-sided cross, Pedersen's downward header was dispatched beyond Jamie MacDonald, the substitute goalkeeper, by the striker.

Toto entered the fray in the 74th minute in place of Elliot at a time when Blackburn seemed to be gaining momentum. Some impressive displays of ball skill and a driven delivery across the face of goal summed up his contribution. To summarise, he looked a useful acquisition who could offer Jefferies a different attacking dimension for the season ahead.

Hearts (4-4-2): Balogh (MacDonald 46); J Thomson, Barr, Zaliukas, Wallace; C Thomson, Black (McGowan 70), Palazuelos, Novikovas (Templeton 70); Suso (Stevenson 81), Elliot (Toto 74). Subs: Jonsson, Stevenson, Bouzid, Mrowiec, Toto.

Blackburn (4-3-3): Bunn (Brown 61); Jacobsen, Samba (Givet 72), Nelsen, Olsson; Andrews, Nzonzi (Linganzi 65), Pedersen (Morris 69); E Diouf, Blackman (M Diouf 46), Hoilett. Subs: Doran, Gunning, Judge.

Referee: Craig Thomson.

Attendance: 6333.