Rovers Under-23s will  lift the Premier League 2 Division Two title at West Brom tomorrow night having secured it on Friday without even playing.

But it is the hard work of Damien Johnson and his players over the season that saw them to promotion with still a game to spare.

They missed the chance to win the title when they lost 1-0 to nearest rivals Aston Villa at Ewood Park last Monday despite a dominant display.

However, defeat for Villa at Newcastle United on Friday leaves Rovers with an unassailable four point advantage going in to the final round of matches as they travel to the Hawthorns to face West Brom.

Johnson was full of players for their achievement, but says senior football now has to be their target.

“It’s been a fantastic run,” Johnson said.

“Most teams in the league will tell you they have a good group but we’ve applied ourselves well and set standards.

“It’s been really competitive all season.

“They have dealt with all the challenges the season has brought them.

“The mentality and the desire to keep pushing themselves is vital for any young player.

“They need to show the manager (Tony Mowbray) that he can trust them to play games. We need more to push through into the first team.”

Several players have made an impact at first-team level this season.

Joe Nuttall has 21 goals this season, 16 for the Under-23s and five at first-team level, while Lewis Travis was a firm fixture in the senior squads at the beginning of the year.

Several others were handed opportunities in the Checkatrade Trophy, while loan moves to clubs elsewhere in the EFL pyramid could well be on the agenda for next season. 

While development is greater than results at this level, Johnson says the players shouldn’t overlook the chance to win a league where possible.

He added: “Having had a career myself, you don’t have the chance to win things too often.

“The lads have been together for a long time and this is something they have created together.”

Rovers have had a settled group for some time but have had to deal with a raft of injuries.

Their defensive record has seen them keep nine clean sheets in their last 11 matches, with their organisation and athleticism particularly impressive.

And it for their efforts across the 21 league games, in which they have won 14 and lost just three, that Johnson praised.

He said: “At the end of the day they wanted it more than myself and (assistant) David (Dunn).

“It’s been a good learning curve for us. Ultimately winning the league is our goal. It’s a big part of their development.”

Rovers won the PL2 Division Two title which contained five Premier League teams, as well as four of the top five sides in the Championship.

Next season they will face the likes of Manchester City, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea, but not Manchester United after their relegation.