Blackburn Rovers kicked off their pre-season schedule with a 2-1 win over Accrington Stanley thanks to goals from Yuki Ohashi and Makhtar Gueye.
The two front men struck in either half to get Valerien Ismael's side underway with a win in the sweltering Lancashire heat.
Ohashi took the opener very cleanly, firing into the bottom corner after Igor Tyjon had been tackled, with the ball breaking inside the box.
Accrington equalised just before a raft of changes on the hour-mark. Charlie Caton poked the ball past Nick Michalski after Devon Matthews had split the Rovers defence with an impressive through ball.
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But Rovers got the winner with five minutes left. Gueye turned on the edge of the area and clinically dragged his shot into the bottom corner.
Here's how The Lancashire Telegraph scored the players' performances, with a six representing par for the course. (Remember, they're just friendlies!)
Nick Michalski - 6
Had very little to do in the first half apart from some routine saves. Couldn't do anything about the equaliser.
Kristi Montgomery - 8
Full of energy down the right. Seemed noticeably more confident on the ball and will have no doubt benefited from the last three weeks.
Hayden Carter - 6
Solid and steady for 40 minutes. Then had to come off just before half-time with a small knock. Walked off and seemed to be moving ok so hopefully just a precaution.
Dom Hyam - 7
Won plenty in the air and on the deck, deflecting a dangerous Shaun Whalley effort wide of the post.
Yuri Ribeiro - 6
Stayed at home for most of the game to make a back-three shape. Montgomery was much higher up the pitch in build-up.
Lewis Travis - 7
Snapped into tackles as usual. Played a nice through pass to free Tyjon in the build-up to the goal.
Sondre Tronstad - 7
Kept things ticking along in the middle of midfield. A few nice passes to open the pitch up but nothing too eye-catching.
Ryan Hedges - 6
Drifted in and out of the game but got a valuable hour after limping off injured on the final day of 2024/25.
Igor Tyjon - 7
Showed some nice flashes in the number 10 role. He's a clever player who just needs more game time to get accustomed to men's football.
Dion De Neve - 7
Got up and down the left touchline with plenty of speed. It's clear he has been recruited for his athleticism and dynamism.
Yuki Ohashi - 7
Finished his one chance really well with a clean strike into the bottom corner. It was a nice move and a clinical finish from Ohashi.
Substitutes all came on at 60 minutes unless stated otherwise;
Felix Goddard - 6
Didn't have a save to make in the half hour he was on.
Lucas Houghton - 6
Showed good energy down the right with a couple of decent runs.
Tom Atcheson (Carter, 40') - 7
Replaced the injured Carter. Dealt with the physical challenges well when he was put under some pressure.
Scott Wharton - 6
Solid and dependable. Tougher tests to come but this was a good first run out after 15 months injured.
Harry Pickering - 6
One lung-busting run to overlap which almost got him in. Solid and steady on the ball as usual.
Trialist - 6
Busy in the centre of midfield. Whilst his identity isn't known at the time of writing, he looks like a young player who is probably on trial for the Academy rather than a first-team addition.
John Buckley - 6
Fizzed a few balls around and kept control of the match.
Millarkey-Matthews - 6
A real athlete. Was involved in plenty of physical tussles and won the majority.
Zak Strich - 6
Neat and tidy in the number 10 role.
Augustus Kargbo - 7
Was Rovers' best outlet by far after the changes were made. Continually ran at his marker and got the beating of him more often than not.
Makhtar Gueye - 7
Wasn't too heavily involved but took his goal well. A firm, low strike into the bottom corner which gave Rovers the win.
Unused substitutes: Farkas
Referee: Ross Joyce
Attendance: 3,543
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