Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out three talking points from the 3-0 win over Everton.

CAN DACK CUT IT?

It will be one of the burning questions heading in to the season, whether twice League One player of the year Bradley Dack can make the step-up to the Championship.

The man himself has confidence in his ability, and judging on the evidence of pre-season, in particular the two matches against Premier League opposition, the signs are promising.

Getting shots off from distance has been a key feature of Rovers in pre-season, with Dack taking aim with three shots from 25 yards out, before going close with one from the edge of the box in the second half.

Dack always looks to make things happen, always on the move, and it was that energy, and skill, which saw him create the second goal for Dominic Samuel, and score an individual effort for the third.

Rovers will undoubtedly need him to fire if they’re to enjoy a successful season. But Tony Mowbray is keen to ease the burden on his shoulders. The pending signing of Kasey Palmer on loan will help just do that, and hopefully push him to new heights.

SIMILAR LOOK

Corry Evans, substituted with eight minutes to go, was the only player not to come through 90 minutes, and with the exception of Derrick Williams, who missed the Everton win with a knock, the team that started on Thursday is likely to take to the field against Ipswich on the opening day.

That means Evans would be the only player not to have started the opening day defeat at Southend 12 months ago (he was a second half substitute), while seven of the expected XI were in the team relegated at Brentford on the final day of the 2016/17 season, despite a 3-1 win.

Rovers have had plenty of new faces since then, but the back five in particular, including goalkeeper David Raya, seem set in stone moving forward.

The boss will look to add more options in the attacking areas as time goes on, but for now, Mowbray seems to have his trusted lieutenants.

PREPARING WELL

Darragh Lenihan said after the match this was the best set of pre-season fixtures that Rovers have had since his involvement in the first-team set-up.

They faced their second Premier League opposition of the close season and round off their friendlies against League Two champions Accrington Stanley on Saturday.

The games have all tested Rovers in different ways, and Thursday’s win over Everton put in to practice what Mowbray and his coaching staff have been working on.

They played with a good intensity throughout, but their shape out of possession again impressed, with Evans in particular making several intelligent interceptions.

Rovers continued to win the ball high up the pitch, putting their strong fitness work in to play.

Danny Graham looks in better shape than he did this time last year, able to come through 90 minutes in just his third outing of pre-season.

While a strong pre-season doesn’t always indicate a good start to the season, Rovers have given themselves the best possible chance, with Mowbray having conceded that below-par friendlies last summer played a part in their slow start to life in League One. They can’t afford that again this time, and looked to have addressed it.