BLACKBURN Rovers manager Owen Coyle insisted that his players passed a 'tough test' in style today despite sharing the spoils with Spanish visitors Girona FC.

The Ewood Park outfit drew 1-1 with the Segunda Division side with goals coming from Ben Marshall just before the half-hour mark and Samuelle Longo just two minutes later. 

Shane Duffy netted in the second half but was denied a celebration by the offside flag. 

Coyle admitted that his side lacked composure in the closing stages but overall he was pleased with the display in the first and only pre-season fixture at home.

He said: "I was delighted with how this afternoon went I knew it was going to be a tough test, FC Girona have just missed out with the play-offs for La Liga for the past two years.

"Technically we passed and moved the ball very well, I felt in the last 15 minutes when we made substitutions we kind of lost a little bit of impotus but prior to that some of the play was terrific.

"We were comfortable on the ball, their keeper had to make some maginifcent saves in the second half from Duffy and Lenihan, and when we had to defend against good players we did it. 

"All in all I was delighted with the exercise,  it was good preparation for next week. I thought the fans were great, the players really enjoyed the support."

The first goal came after 27 minutes when some tika-taka between Elliot Bennett and Marshall on the left set up space for Marshall to surge towards the danger area and blast it past Girona keeper Rene Roman Hinojo. 

And Coyle was particuarly impressed with the way both players got Rovers into the lead. 

"We scored a wonderful goal, the execution from Ben was terrific and the build up was great and I thought Elliot Bennett was outstanding today amongst a number of others."

Girona FC have just missed out on promotion to La Liga for the last two seasons and provided the opposition for the only pre-season fixture on home soil ahead of the arrival of Norwich City next week for the Championship opener.

The Catalan side finished fourth last season after losing to Osasuna 3-1 in the play-off final.

Coyle added: "We took the game because we knew it would be a good test, they have some very good players. 

"We were always going to be tested especially if we gave away the ball cheaply. 

"Latterly I felt we did that in the game but prior to that our passing was secure and we looked dangerous."

Rovers will travel to Notts County tomorrow in their final pre-season game with kick-off at 3pm.

Notts County have enjoyed a decent pre-season, recording wins over non-league sides Rolls Royce Leisure, Carlton and Ilkeston.