Mulgrew features for Rovers U23s in Accrington Stanley win

The game was played behind closed doors, but Rovers used the match as valuable match practice for 18 players, some of who were involved at Blackpool on Tuesday night.

They included John Buckley and Jacob Davenport who came on in the second half, as well as Dan Pike, Hayden Carter, Luke Brennan and Tyrhys Dolan who both played on consecutive days.

There was also a return from injury for Sam Barnes, with Tyler Magloire and Lewis Thompson given their first minutes of the close season.

But it was Mulgrew’s name that stood-out in Billy Barr’s line-up, the Scotland international having not been involved in either of Rovers’ pre-season friendlies thus far.

He has been linked with a move to League One side Portsmouth, although geography and the third tier salary cap make that a difficult move. Another League One side in Fleetwood Town are also thought to have expressed interest in signing the 34-year-old who is in to the final year of his Ewood Park contract.

Mulgrew played the first half of the win against Stanley side who included familiar names in Jayson Leutwiler and Willem Tomlinson.

An early goal was all that separated the sides, Under-23s captain Stefan Mols tapping in at the back post after good work from Sam Burns.

Mulgrew and Ben Paton both saw efforts saved by Leutwiler, who is currently training with Stanley after his release by Rovers.

Rovers had to withstand some pressure in the second half to hold out for the win, as Billy Barr’s side came through their first friendly with a win as they gear up for a return to Premier League 2 action.

Stanley, who face Burton Albion in the Carabao Cup in eight days’ time, are yet to publish any details of the game.

Rovers: Hilton, Pike (Carter 30), Magloire (Barnes 25), Mulgrew (Magloire 46), Thompson (Pike 60), Annesley (Whitehall 60), Whitehall (Saadi 30), Lyons (Davenport 60), Paton (Buckley 60), Mols (Brennan 60), Burns (Dolan 60)