Johnson feels a step-up in level for Rovers Under-23s will prove an invaluable learning curve.

Rovers were beaten 3-0 by a mightily impressive Chelsea side at Leyland on Monday after goals from Billy Gilmour, Daishawn Redan and Luke McCormick.

Johnson's youngsters, winners of the Premier League 2 Division Two title last term, worked tirelessly and had opportunities of their own.

The best of those came within seconds of Chelsea's opener, with Lewis Hardcastle denied one-on-one after some excellent interplay with Joe Nuttall.

Chelsea's first goal came within 90 seconds, before doubling their advantage on 57 minutes and adding a third in the dying moments.

Reflecting on the game, Johnson said: “We always knew it was going to be a good test. We were really disappointed with the start, conceding so early.

“Within a couple of minutes we had some great play and probably should have equalised and I think that's the lessons we'll learn the higher up we go and the better the quality of opposition, the little lapses of concentration and then you have to be really clinical with the opportunities you create.

“That's all part of the learning process and that's why we want to play at this level against the best players and they had some really good players who will go on to play in the Premier League and probably the Champions League so it's a great experience. But it's important we learn from it.”

Rovers drew 2-2 in their opening game at Derby County, but were without the suspended Charley Doyle and Tyler Magloire who faces up to 12 weeks out with ligament damage.

That left Johnson short of numbers in defence, switching to a back four rather than their preferred three-man defence.

“We still tried to do the right things, still tried to play, we had good periods of play and more than held our own,” he added.

“I think some of our play deserved a goal.

“There were some good individual performances. We had to change things up a little bit after the circumstances of last week so you're asking people to play in unfamiliar roles.

“John Buckley, I thought he was terrific up against some very dangerous attacking players and they are the challenges we're asking of them individually.

“We learn a lot about the lads and the reaction to going behind at different times was good and we could have scored straight after they scored the first one. All the things they will be asked throughout their careers they're starting to be asked now which is great.”