Jon Dahl Tomasson is eager to have a good cup run after a young Rovers side ran out 4-3 winners against Walsall at Ewood Park.

Zak Gilsenan, Niall Ennis, Jake Garrett and John Buckley were all on target in an entertaining opening round tie.

“I am delighted to win the game,” said Tomasson. “My desire is to have another great cup run like we had last season. It was great to see five debuts today.

"We scored four excellent goals, but you also saw that sometimes we played some brilliant football and sometimes we made a lot of mistakes. That is the situation because the squad is stretched in that way.

“The players who played on Saturday have used lots of energy so we need to take care of them. It was great to see another win here at Ewood and entertaining football.

“Sometimes as a coach (the mistakes) are not fun, but we know they are learning on the job and investing in themselves, so that is extremely positive.”

Rovers twice came from behind during the first half, and Tomasson was pleased with their reaction to adversity.

“It is a good sign, especially if you look at last season,” the manager explained. “I was not satisfied with the first half, of course.

“We shouldn’t forget that Walsall did a really good job. They were fighting for the end and they made it difficult for the team.

“But we were playing too slow and playing sideways in the first half. The second half was much better but still a lot of mistakes.”

He added: “When you see all those young lads and the identity we have been able to create in the club from a football point of view – a modern, dominant way of playing with and without the ball – that makes me proud.

“Five debuts tonight, that is a lot. Maybe it is a little bit too many to be honest, but that is the situation.”