BLACKBURN Rovers beat Accrington Stanley 3-1 at the Crown Ground tonight, as 2,453 people turned up to help the cash-strapped League Two outfit.

Morten Gamst Pedersen and Franco Di Santo gave Blackburn Rovers a 2-0 half time lead as Sam Allardyce gave his Premier League stars a half an hour run out.

Norwegian midfielder Pedersen beat Accrington Stanley goalkeeper Ian Dunbavin with a low 25-yard free-kick on just three minutes before he and four other senior players were withdrawn by the Rovers boss.

Substitute Franco Di Santo then doubled Rovers' lead on the stroke of half time, slotting home after Marcus Marshall's through ball.

Allardyce also gave Gael Givet, Junior Hoilett, Nikola Kalinic, Jason Roberts and Benni McCarthy starts as Rovers did their bit to help Stanley in their bid to raise £308,000 for the tax man.

Sunday's East Lancashire derby against Burnley was also clearly in his thoughts though after making sure none of his stars exerted themselves too much.

Rovers should have been further ahead before the break, with Jason Roberts and Junior Hoilett missing good chances. Stanley trialist Chris Rimmer went closest for the hosts, firing inches wide on 20 minutes.

Di Santo and Chimbonda were then taken off on the hour mark, giving them half an hour's action as well, before Michael Symes pulled a goal back for the hosts.

Marcus Marshall completed the scoring from the penalty spot on 85 minutes though, after he had been bundled over by Phil Edwards.

ROVERS: Jason Brown, Jackson Ramm, Martin Olsson, Jason Lowe, Phil Jones, Gael Givet (Pascal Chimbonda 30) (Michael Hall 60), Junior Hoilett, Nikola Kalinic (Marcus Marshall 30), Jason Roberts (Franco Di Santo 30) (Julio Santa Cruz 60), Benni McCarthy (Andy Howarth 30), Morten Pedersen (Gearoid Morrissey 30)

SUBS: Josh Swann,

STANLEY: Ian Dunbavin, Julian Sourice, Chris Rimmer, Peter Murphy, Louis Melo, Luke Joyce, John Miles, Ross Lloyd, Gary King, Sean McConville, Bee Ami

SUBS USED: David Ryan, Robert Grant, Michael Symes, Andrew Proctor, Dean Winnard, Phil Edwards, Chris Turner, Tom Lees

Click here to view our gallery from the game.