FULL-TIME: Cambridge United 0 Blackburn Rovers 4

While non league hosts Cambridge United never looked capable of fully testing Allardyce’s men, the 4-0 win at the RCostings Abbey Stadium was an impressive first outing for a squad with a lot to prove.

Debutants Lars Jacobsen and Steven N’zonzi fitted in well, without ever really needing to play at full throttle, as it became ‘so far so good’ for Rovers’ season preparations.

Keith Andrews’ precise 29th minute free kick fired Rovers into a first half lead, as the ball curled into the top right hand corner, in a game played at a decent tempo for a summer opener.

El-Hadji Diouf doubled the lead on 37, slotting home after some calamitous defending from three of the hosts’ defenders, before 10 changes were made for the second half.

Substitute Jason Roberts made it 3-0 on 57 minutes, volleying home from close range after Stephen Warnock’s run and cross on the left, before scoring his second on 78 after a sublime one-two between Alan Judge and Benni McCarthy.

After a close-season of speculation, new signings and departures, the new Premier League campaign suddenly drew a huge step nearer – as Rovers’ pre-season began in earnest.

While boss Sam Allardyce has made no secret of his desire to add at least one more senior striker to his squad for the challenge ahead, his existing squad were given the chance to remind him of exactly what they were capable of in a low-key affair at non league Cambridge United.

South African Elrio Van Heerden was left behind, after being involved in this summer’s Confederations Cup, but the rest of Allardyce’s men were at the Trade Recruitment Stadium, before flying out to Italy today.

Allardyce mixed and match his first half and second half sides, with Ryan Nelsen, Vince Grella, Gael Givet, Keith Andrews and El-Hadji Diouf all starting the game, before Jacobsen and Nzonzi were given second half debuts in a side that also included Chris Samba, Stephen Warnock, David Dunn, Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy.

For the likes of Nelsen and Grella, last night’s opening half was all about ‘blowing out the cobwebs’ but, for striker Paul Gallagher, it marked the start of a crucial period in his Rovers career.

Having spent the last few seasons on loan in the Championship, the home-grown striker will know this pre-season could be his last chance to establish himself as a Premier League striker – especially as the search for Santa Cruz’s replacement goes on.

Partnering former Macclesfield youngster Nick Blackman in attack, he had Rovers’ first attempt of the game but curled well over after cutting inside from the left.

Gallagher almost doubled Rovers’ lead, after Andrews’ opener, on 31 minutes but was denied by a lunging tackle from Josh Coulson having raced onto Grella’s through ball and then blazed over the bar on 40 minutes.

Right winger Aaron Doran, who made a few substitute appearances last campaign, looked dangerous from the start as his direct running caused United problems, while Diouf was allowed a free role and was looking to get on the ball as much as possible.

Academy players Gavin Gunning and Alex Marrow were given their first taste of senior football at left back and right back respectively and both produced solid displays to suggest good futures ahead.

Andrews almost closed the half off in style, seeing his audacious 45-minute lob sailing inches over the cross bar.

After the break the expected 10 changes were made, with just Mark Bunn staying on, as Jacobsen was given his debut at right back and Nzonzi in the heart of the midfield.

ROVERS FIRST HALF: Bunn, Marrow, Gunning, Grella, Nelsen, Givet, Doran, Andrews, Gallagher, Diouf, Blackman.

ROVERS SECOND HALF: Bunn, Jacobsen, Samba, Khizanishvili, Warnock, Judge, Dunn, Nzonzi, Treacy (Brown 79), Roberts, McCarthy.

Cambridge: Potter, Gleeson, Coakley, Coulson, Hatswell, Parkinson, Willmott, Reason, Farrell, Crowe, Phillips SUBS: Beesley, Holdroyd, McAuley, Ives, Jordan, Marriott, Hudson, Wright