Having seen the nine Championship clubs facing lower league opposition in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night all knocked out, there was a stark warning for Rovers not to follow that trend when League Two Hartlepool United when to town.

Jon Dahl Tomasson, who spent his Monday at Blackpool pleasure beach, had such no concerns over a rollercoaster tie at Ewood Park however, as Rovers dominated from the off to book their spot in round two.

Where other sides had come unstuck, Rovers impressed with their application, never looking likely to fall victim to an upset.

Tomasson promised changes and did just that, with 10 in all as Bradley Dack captained a side included two debutants and an average age of 21.6.

Three players who started weren’t even born when Rovers last lifted the trophy in 2002, while three more hadn’t even celebrated their first birthday when they lifted the trophy at the Millennium Stadium.

Ash Phillips and Adam Wharton were handed their senior debuts, Tyler Morton a first start after his move from Liverpool while it was a first Ewood appearance for January signing Dilan Markanday.

With much having been made about possession and passes completed by Swansea City after Rovers’ win at the weekend, it was the hosts who were enjoying exclusive property of the ball.

Yet for the opening quarter the visitors will have been happy with their efforts, restricting Rovers to just one Markanday shot from distance that was easily saved by Ben Killip.

Rovers were needing to move the ball quicker. When they did, they looked dangerous.

Markanday slipped in Morton who made the run from midfield, his ball across the face of goal just evading the sliding Dack.

Markanday was beginning to come into the game, this time the man with the chance as good work down the Rovers left saw Tyrhys Dolan send over a cross from which he steadied himself but from 10 yards shot straight at Killip who saved with his legs.

The breakthrough arrived just after the half hour. It was as simple as you like, a Morton corner from the right met by the head of Scott Wharton at the near post. That was enough to divert it beyond Killip into the corner.

It settled everyone inside Ewood down, as despite the one-way traffic, their chances hadn’t been plentiful up to that point.

A minute later Wharton was then the provider with a searching long-range pass that was taken down by Markanday, his shot on the turn denied by the post as the hosts went close to a second.

Tomasson will have been encouraged by the closing stages of the first half even if they had been in control throughout.

Wharton, the only player to keep his place from the win over Swansea, was replaced by Harry Pickering at half time.

There had been little to do for the Rovers defence in the first half, and the play at the start of the second half continued in Rovers’ favour.

Three minutes after the re-start a second goal game. It was a trademark Dack goal. Having narrowly missed out on getting on the end of a Morton cross in the first half, there was no denying him this time as he slid home from close range after Tayo Edun’s deliver.

Firmly in charge and beginning to enjoy themselves, Rovers soon went after a third as Vale’s shot was beaten away by Killip.

The Pools ‘keeper was left exposed moments later though, a fortuitous run of the ball sent Tyrhys Dolan clear, the winger confidently slotting the ball into the corner.

While the passages of play were pleasing on the eye, what would have pleased Tomasson most was the application of his players.

The tempo had dropped a little, though Rovers were queuing up to score with 17 minutes remaining. It was passed along the box, eventually finding the left foot of Markanday who calmly stroked it into the corner.

Ironic cheers from the away end came as Hartlepool eventually managed a shot on goal, substitute Josh Umerah firing over the top, with still 14 minutes to go.

Jake Batty was Rovers’ second change, another senior debut as the 18-year-old replaced Edun at left back.

Dack didn’t make it to the end, coming off six minutes before the end, with John Buckley on in his place, and taking over the captain’s armband to finish the game.

Rovers held on to their clean sheet record at the start of the season, with a superb Aynsley Pears save from a Josh Umerah head which proved to be the last action of the night.

Rovers: Aynsley Pears, Joe Rankin-Costello, Ash Phillips, Scott Wharton (Harry Pickering, 46), Tayo Edun (Jake Batty, 79), Tyler Morton, Adam Wharton, Dilan Markanday, Bradley Dack (John Buckley, 84), Tyrhys Dolan, Jack Vale

Subs: Thomas Kaminski, Daniel Ayala, Louie Annesley, Lewis Travis, Sam Szmodics, Sam Gallagher

Hartlepool: Killip, Niagn, Murray, Shelton (Cooke, 67), Paterson, Taylor (Featherstone, 67), Hamilton (Umerah, 67), Sylla, Crawford, Memayese, Tumility

Subs: Letheren, Sterry, Ferguson, Cooke