WHILE Rovers wait for reinforcements in attack, those currently on the books have the perfect opportunity to stake a claim.

And it was Joe Nuttall who became the first striker of pre-season to find the back of the net, heading in a Craig Conway cross to hand Tony Mowbray’s men a 1-0 win against Lincoln City at Sincil Bank.

The Liverpool friendly three days earlier was about keeping a disciplined defensive shape, while the Imps encounter was for those in the forward areas to showcase their talents.

The ball was moved about with purpose, particularly after the break, as the minutes continue to be shared around.

With two classy operators in the middle of the park, in Jacob Davenport and Peter Whittingham, and against League Two opposition, Rovers were also likely to see plenty of the ball.

For the most part they used it well, switching the play to good effect, with Elliott Bennett keeping good width on the Rovers right in the first half.

Whittingham went close within 11 minutes on the watch. With Charlie Mulgrew watching on, he took over free-kick duties, and was unlucky to see his curling 25 yard effort come crashing back off the bar.

Nuttall was a willing runner alongside the fit-again Danny Graham, and his first sight of goal came just before the half hour mark. Whittingham picked out Bennett with a searching cross-field ball and after the stand-in skipper’s cross was palmed up in the air by Josh Vickers, Nuttall headed over from eight yards out.

Graham suffered the same fate moments later, but from a much easier opportunity. Again Bennett found space and after the experienced striker pulled inbetween two defenders, the outcome seemed inevitable. However, his downward header bounced up and over the bar to the amazement of the crowd.

Rovers would eventually get the goal their play deserved however moments before the break. They needed more creativity in the final third to pierce the Lincoln backline and a neat one-two between Whittingham and Craig Conway proved to be that. The latter stood up a cross which Nuttall powered home with a header in to the bottom corner.

Given the stature of Lincoln’s front two, John Akinde and Matt Green, it was always likely to be a battle for the Rovers defenders. They dealt with it well for the most part. But they were grateful to see Akinde head respective chances wide and over Jayson Leutwiler’s goal.

Nuttall continued to catch the eye after the break, winning possession high up the pitch before feeding Davenport on the edge of the box. His effort took a deflection on the way and narrowly missed the far corner.

The pattern of the game continued before the raft of changes arrived, with Rovers confidently knocking the ball around.

The changes, seven of them, arrived just after the hour mark and Rovers instantly looked more threatening. Vickers plucked a Dack thunderbolt out of the top corner with an outstanding one handed save, while Derrick Williams failed to turn the ball in and after a Richie Smallwood cross wasn’t dealt with.

Rovers were stepping on the gas and ending the game strongly as they went in search of a second goal. Good work from Ryan Nyambe allowed Joe Rothwell to fire goalwards, and after Luke Waterfall blocked his effort, Vickers denied Dack again with a fingertip save.

They pressed to the end, Dominic Samuel and Nyambe booth having goaldbound efforts blocked, as their fourth pre-season friendly ended in victory.

Lincoln City: Vickers, Eardley, Waterfall, Wilson, Toffolo, Pett (Anderson, 46), Frecklington, Chapman, Andrade, Akinde (Rhead, 61), Green

Subs: Smith

Rovers: Leutwiler, Downing, Lenihan (Travis, 46), Wharton (Mulgrew, 61), Bennett (Nyambe, 46), Whittingham (Evans, 61), Davenport (Smallwood, 61), Bell (Williams, 61), Conway (Dack, 61) Graham (Samuel, 61), Nuttall (Rothwell, 61)

Subs: Raya