Jon Dahl Tomasson praised the “attitude and intensity” of his young squad after their dominant 8-0 victory at Harrogate in the Carabao Cup second round.

John Buckley bagged a brace, with Jake Garrett, Sam Gallagher, Dilan Markanday, Zak Gilsenan, Tom Bloxham and James Edmondson all getting on the scoresheet at the EnviroVent Stadium.

“It is very rare to score eight goals in a competitive game,” said Tomasson. “We have all seen how difficult those games can be, there have been a couple of upsets already.

“When we started the game we saw Harrogate were in a low block, something we have trained on all year to try and break that down.

“It can be so difficult but I thought it was an extremely professional performance, vary mature. All those things we are working on in training, I saw that.

“Eight great goals, a clean sheet, seven different scorers and I stopped counting all those young guns who made their debuts. I am proud of the boys.”

Rovers had some joy in the cup competitions last season, and Tomasson hopes his side can go on another run this time around.

“We made a couple of upsets last season in the cups, beating Leicester and West Ham away, so I know how difficult these games can be but I take this cup very seriously.

“The key to the game was the work in the final third we have been doing this season. All those principles where the players did a lot of the right things, and the right attitude and intensity from the beginning of the game.”

Bloxham and Edmondson both scored on their senior debuts, while Tom Atcheson also came off the bench.

“You know I love working with these players. They have a great spirit, togetherness and they want to get better,” the manager explained.

“There is a reason I took all those young players (to Austria). They work like that every day. They are still very young and normally should be un the U21s, but I like to train those boys.

“I think it is better if they hear from me what to do. They listen and are willing to do the right things. It is a great day for the Academy and for the fans, they love to see youngsters getting minutes.”

Tomasson's side will now welcome Cardiff City to Ewood Park in the third round.