Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the Carabao Cup win over Lincoln City. 

REST AND OPPORTUNITY

There was a good balance to the Rovers side, providing rest to key players, while opportunities for those short of game-time.

Tony Mowbray was able to protect the likes of Charlie Mulgrew, Darragh Lenihan, Richie Smallwood, Corry Evans and Elliott Bennett, while neither Kasey Palmer or Joe Rothwell were needed for 90 minutes.

Craig Conway made only his second start of the season, while Paul Caddis, Paul Downing and Joe Grayson their first.

And while the first-half was a little flat, the second was much more like it as Rovers had more than enough to see off the League Two leaders and move in to round three.

Four goals, a new signing and rest for key players, it was a good night all round for Rovers and their boss.

NUTTALL CONUNDRUM

Joe Nuttall opened the scoring just five minutes in with a well taken finish, reacting quickest to the loose ball.

There were other moments of promise, good link-up play, but it is clear he needs further game-time to hone his skills.

A loan move would likely be the ideal scenario, but even despite the arrival of Ben Brereton, can Rovers afford to allow the 21-year-old to leave on loan, particularly with Dominic Samuel set for a spell out with a knee injury?

Mowbray has handed him three opportunities in the Championship so far, so hasn’t been shy of giving Nuttall a go. What role he has to play in the immediate future could well depend on what happens between now and 5pm Friday.

CARA-BOW

Joe Grayson made his Rovers debut some 19 years and three weeks after dad Simon and in doing so, became the first father and son combination to have played for Rovers since 1929.

Grayson has been one of the shining lights in Damien Johnson’s Under-23s side. With Scott Wharton on loan at Lincoln, though not able to feature last night, and Matty Platt at Accrington Stanley, there was an opportunity for the 19-year-old to step in to the backline with Mulgrew and Lenihan rested.

It was a tough ask about two strapping Lincoln strikers, with the visitors looking to get the ball forward at every opportunity. There were a few nervy moments along the way, but Grayson settled in to the game as Rovers began to take charge.

Dan Butterworth then made his senior debut with 19 minutes to go and from minute one looked to get on the ball and make things happen. His low centre of gravity made him hard to pin down, with his quick feet around the box creating a chance for Caddis late on. 

It was a night to showcase the Academy talent coming through, and they made a lasting impression.

AIMS AND AMBITIONS?

So just what does the league cup mean for Rovers this season? Well with nine goals in two ties against League Two sides, and fewer changes across two matches than most sides made in one, they haven't wanted to be victim to an early upset. 

Usually, a seeded draw would have meant a Premier League or Championship club for Rovers in round two, or indeed three, but under new rules, a free draw set up another League Two side.

Mowbray has made no secret of his desire to test his players against higher league opposition as they did in pre-season against Liverpool and Everton.

So a home tie against one of the top six Premier League teams would likely to be the perfect draw when it is made tomorrow night. 

INTERVAL INTRODUCTION

No sooner had the half-time whistle gone than Ben Brereton unveiled as a Rovers player, before being paraded out on the pitch.

He will have struggled to make it back to his seat before the Rovers players were back out on the pitch, Craig Conway taking them out early after a dressing down at half-time.

Brereton’s signing is the marquee deal Rovers have been wanting to do all summer, with Mowbray rewarded for his patience with the deal for the 19-year-old.

The boss talked about not over-burdening the attacker just because of his price tag, with Brereton eager to get going in a Rovers shirt and show what he can do.

Whichever way you look at it, it’s hard not to think of this deal as anything other than a statement of intent and a huge moment in this current chapter of Rovers under Mowbray.