Damien Johnson branded Rovers’ Premier League Cup tie with Sheffield United a must win, and they did just that against Sheffield United at Leyland.

The game was over by half time as a Dan Butterworth brace, including one from the penalty spot, followed Matty Platt’s 14th minute opener.

Rovers failed to add to their tally after the break, but were comfortable 3-0 winners, their fifth victory in their last six matches.

The three points move Rovers second in the table and with a possible last 16 spot in their grasp ahead of their final two group games against Everton and Doncaster next month.

Rovers, who included Paul Downing in their starting line-up, started strongly, with John Buckley drawing a save from Jordan Amissah within the opening minute.

Their dominance eventually told in the 14th minute as Platt won the initial header from a Stefan Mols corner, before turning in from close range.

It was 2-0 just two minutes later, Buckley nipping in before defender Sam Graham who hacked him down at the expense of a penalty which Butterworth dispatched.

The game should have been over inside the opening half an hour, only for Rovers to squander two excellent chances. First, Jack Vale fired wide from a Butterworth cross, before Vale turned provider for Lewis Thompson who blazed over from six yards, much to his frustration.

The one-way traffic continued and Rovers eventually found their third goal 10 minutes before the break. It owed much to the individual skill of Butterworth, who nut-megged his marker before rifling a 25-yard effort in to the bottom corner.

There was a flashpoint before the break which saw Butterworth sent flying by a poorly timed challenge by full back Kyron Gordon. He only received a yellow card, as did Butterworth for his reaction.

The Blades were more competitive after the break, with few opportunities at either end in the opening quarter after the re-start. The visitors were defending their six yard box well in a bid to keep the score down, as Buckley fired another shot over from distance.

The ball wasn't dropping for Rovers in the box, a left wing cross evading Amissah, with Graham on hand to clear off the line.

The win moves Rovers above the Blades in to second spot, four points behind leaders Everton with two games to play.

Rovers: Albinson, Magloire, Platt, Downing, Carter, Doyle (Paton, 78), Buckley, Thompson, Mols (Rankin-Costello, 64), Butterworth (Simmonds, 70), Vale

Subs: Winterbottom, Saadi

Sheff United: Amissah, Gordon (Neal, 46), Belehouan, Broadbent, Graham, York, Ferguson, Greaves, Mallon, Brunt (Williams, 46), Shepppeard

Subs: Gomis, Dewhurst, Ackroyd