IF Rovers are to progress through to the group stages of the UEFA Cup then they'll have to do it the hard way after a horror show in Greece.

Two goals in two mad minutes midway through the first half gave Giorgos Donis's side a healthy advantage ahead of the second leg at Ewood Park in a fortnight's time.

There weren't too many familiar names amongst the Larissa line-up but it was one of the few known players who gave the home side the lead on 33 minutes. Ibrahima Bakayoko's effort from distance deflecting past Friedel off Ryan Nelsen into the top corner of the net.

Bakayoko didn't enjoy the greatest of spells when he played for Everton, although of the four goals he scored in a year-long spell with the Merseyside club, two of them did come in a 2-1 victory Rovers in March 1999.

Sixty seconds later and the nightmare got worse for Rovers. Brett Emerton woefully underhit a back pass, Cleyton provided the finishing touch.

Rovers looked a shadow of the side that had been in the middle of an impressive fifteen game unbeaten run as they rarely threatened a lively Larissa side. Roque Santa Cruz had their best effort, but he somehow headed wide with just Kotsolis in the Larissa goal to beat.

But that was a rare effort at goal as the home side dominated for long spells, with Rovers grateful in the end that the scoreline wasn't increased further.

Mark Hughes put out his strongest possible line-up, with just the one expected change as Andre Ooijer came in to replace Christopher Samba. But despite this, Rovers chose the Panthessaliko Stadium to put in their worst performance of the season.

Despite the noise generated by the Larissa fans, down in the pitch the game was decidedly low key, Rovers seeing a lot of the ball, but unable to make anything of it on an awful surface. Perhaps that their best, and only, decent chance of the first half didn't touch the ground proved that point. A long throw from Morten Gamst Pedersen was brilliantly controlled on the chest by striker Benni McCarthy, he turned and acrobatically shot towards goal only to see the ball strike the head of his marker and away to safety.

Time and time again Rovers had promising positions, usually from dead ball situations, but time and time again crosses or shots were straight into the arms of Larissa goalkeeper Stefanos Kotsolis.

The home side had offered little as an attacking force, but all that was to change on 33 minutes when they took the lead. It came courtesy of former Everton marksman Ibrahima Bakayoko. He turned well in a tight space some 25 yards out and advanced on goal before shooting, the ball taking a deflection off a Rovers boot which just did enough to send it over the despairing Brad Friedel and into the back of the net.

It was the first goal that Rovers had conceded in European competition this season, but the game had barely got back underway when the lead was doubled. Brett Emerton's back pass was woefully short and that allowed Alexandrou to advance towards goal, Friedel saved the initial effort but the ball was worked to Bakayoko and then to Cleyton Silva who fired home from 12 yards despite the best efforts of Friedel and Ooijer.

With a two-goal advantage, Larissa were able to relax and sit back, Rovers played out the remaining ten minutes pretty much in their opponent's half, but without ever forcing a meaningful save from Kotsolis.

Fotakis saw a free-kick palmed away by Friedel as Larissa started the second half strongly, but Roque Santa Cruz should have reduced arrears on 54 minutes. A high ball into the area found the Paraguayan in acres of space as the ball came down and with the goalkeeper stranded in no mans land, all the Rovers striker needed to do was head it over the 'keeper and into the net, but he somehow headed wide.

Circumstances continued to conspire against Rovers as they lost talisman Ryan Nelsen with what looked like a hamstring injury just before the hour mark. Zurab Khizanishvili replacing the Kiwi.

Mark Hughes cut a frustrated figure on the touchline, unimpressed with what he was seeing, he quickly made a second change, Matt Derbyshire replacing the ineffective Morten Gamst Pedersen.

As Rovers readjusted to their new shape they almost conceded a third, only a timely block from sub Khizanishvili stopped Bakayoko from getting his second goal on the night. Moments later midfielder Ilias Kyriakidis fizzed an effort narrowly over Brad Friedel's crossbar.

It was a performance that was akin to former Euro horrors from Rovers, gone was the confidence on the ball, passes were regularly astray, and their hesitant play allowed the Greek side to dominate.

Rovers had Brad Friedel to thank for ensuring that the lead wasn't stretched even further, making a sensational stop to deny Cleyton with his legs.

Tugay looked lively when he came on for Rovers with just over ten minutes to go, but time and time again Mark Hughes' side were wasteful in front of goal, despite enjoying a host of promising positions.

Mountains provide an impressive backdrop to the Panthessaliko Stadium, and is precisely what Rovers will have to climb if they are to progress through to the second round in a fortnight's time at Ewood Park.

LARISSA: Kotsolis, Ntampizas, Kyriakidis, Gkalitsios, Cleyton (sub Kalantzis 85 mins), Sarmiento, Fotakis, Alexandrou (sub Gkikas 77 mins), Foerster, Bakayoko (sub Venetis 90 mins), Katsiaros.

Subs not used: Kipouros, Boukouvalas, Bachramis, Kozlej.

ROVERS: Friedel, Emerton, Ooijer, Nelsen (sub Khizanishvili 57 mins), Warnock, Bentley, Dunn, Savage, Pedersen (sub Derbyshire 62 mins), Santa Cruz, McCarthy (sub Tugay 78 mins).

Subs not used: Brown, Mokoena, Olsson, Roberts.

Booked: Katsiaros (Larissa), Warnock, Bentley (Rovers)

Attendance: 8,126