The Tigers' pre-season build-up continued in Belgium this afternoon (Saturday) with Geovanni getting the goal in a 1-1 draw with KV Oostende.

City boss Phil Brown continued with his policy of fielding a different side in each half and both Bernard Mendy and George Boateng made their debuts in the black and amber, whilst trialist keeper Sebastion Cejag was also included in the Tigers' team that played in the opening 45 minutes.

City made a bright start to the game and looked very comfortable in possession on a decent playing surface. They could have gone in front after just nine minutes as Dean Marney created an opening for Geovanni but the Brazilian didn't quite get hold of his shot from 12-yards out.

Marney himself then had an opportunity three minutes later after the Tigers had forced the first corner of the game, but his curling effort from the angle of the 18-yard box flew wide of the far post. With City in control a goal seemed to be on its way and it arrived on the 15 minute mark off the back of a slick move.

Nick Barmby played a clever one-two with Geovanni on the edge of the Oostende area before feeding the overlapping Ryan France on the right flank. His cross was a pinpoint one and Geovanni timed his run perfectly to power a header home from six-yards.

It was no more than City deserved and their Belgian opponents were having trouble getting to grips with the alround sharpness of the Tigers. On 18 minutes, Barmby had an effort palmed away after Caleb Folan's knockdown had played him in and soon after that, Geovanni tried his luck from distance but saw his shot deflected away for a corner.

After 35 minutes, the Brazilian midfielder turned provider with a great cross that Folan headed over and then three minutes before the break Cejag had to save smartly from Benjamin Mokulu as he threatened to equalise for the home side.

HALFTIME: KV Oostende 0 Tigers 1

As expected, it was all change for the Tigers for the start of the second half, although Nathan Doyle did get the nod to continue at left-back. Mendy made his City bow in the right-back slot with Boateng fitting into his customary central midfield role.

After a vibrant first 45 minutes, the second period was a touch disappointing from a City perspective as they failed to play at any real tempo and gave the ball away too cheaply on too many occasions. However, credit must be paid to the hosts who looked far more dangerous and saw much more of the ball given the Tigers' propensity to concede possession on a regular basis.

The Belgians made good use of it at times and with 61 minutes gone they sent their supporters into raptures by grabbing an equaliser. City failed to clear their lines properly following a corner and it was the lively Mokulu who teed up Thor Laleman to steer a shot past Bo Myhill from a tight angle.

Phil Brown would have been disappointed with his side for some poor defending, nevertheless it was a still a neat finish.

With 20 minutes to go, the City boss opted to replace Doyle with youngster Will Atkinson and at that stage the game as a contest had all but petered out. The Tigers could have won it with 15 minutes remaining when Atkinson had a half chance, but his snap-shot was inches wide of the post.

TIGERS (FIRST HALF): Cejag, France, Turner, Cooper, Doyle, Fagan, Ashbee, Marney, Barmby, Geovanni, Folan.

TIGERS (SECOND HALF): Myhill, Mendy, Brown, Plummer, Doyle (Atkinson 70mins), Garcia, Boateng, Welsh, Hughes, Featherstone, Windass.