With Bolton Wanderers already relegated, and nothing but pride to play for, and Rovers trying out a more possession-based style, you’d mistaken for thinking this was a pre-season friendly for long parts.

There was the weather to match, and with the tempo low, Rovers coasted to a comfortable three points, their fourth consecutive victory.

The players have responded to Tony Mowbray’s call to reach 60 points, just one shy of that tally with two games remaining, and were also able to introduce Academy prospects John Buckley and Dan Butterworth late on.

There was gallows humour from the away end who could only watch on as Rovers eased to victory.

The visitors’ best spell actually came in the opening exchanges, with Sami Ameobi firing over inside 90 seconds, while an unmarked Callum Connolly should have done better with his back post header from a Craig Noone cross.

Wanderers also had the first shot on target, the impressive Luca Connell drawing a save out of Jayson Leutwiler who kept his place despite Rovers making three changes.

Brereton was one of those and showed he had the beating of the Bolton backline with a promising break down the right, only for Jack Hobbs to block his shot.

Rovers were seeing plenty of the ball, and determined to pick their way through a packed Bolton defence, though had little to show for it as Jack Rodwell, one of the changes, blazed over from 25yards.

There could have been no more popular a goalscorer when Rovers did take the lead on the half hour mark though. Lenihan looked to have handled when winning the ball on halfway, but as played was waved on, Rothwell and Dack linked up to play through Brereton.

The attacker, used in the No.9 role, finished confidently first time on his left foot to wheel away in celebration.

The pattern of Rovers dominating the ball, and Bolton sitting off continued, but there was a warning before the break when substitute Luke Murphy almost paid the hosts pay for a slack clearance as his thumping 25 yard drive whistled over.

The tempo increased after the break through with Rovers quick out of the blocks to extend their lead five minutes after the re-start. Rothwell fed Dack who rolled his marker before returning the favour.

And although Ben Alnwick kept out Rothwell’s effort, Adam Armstrong was there to turn home his ninth of the season from close range.

Ameobi remained a threat, his low effort kept out by Leutwiler who also had to be alert to deny Connolly’s near post effort with his feet.

But it was Rovers who were pressing more for the game’s third goal as first Armstrong curled an effort straight in to the arms of Alnwick before Brereton couldn’t keep down his effort from inside the six yard box as he met an excellent Rothwell cross.

Butterworth, five minutes after his arrival, went close to a goal as his burst forward ended with a shot which flashed wide of the far post. Brereton was also close to turning that in, as he was denied a second by the legs of Alnwick after collecting a terrifically weighted Rothwell pass.

Bennett lined up a shot from distance, which Alnwick held on to at the second attempt, as the game become all too easy for Rovers.

Bolton’s afternoon was summed up by two late Craig Noone efforts.

The first, a back post volley, was blazed 10 rows back, while from a 20-yard free kick, the former Cardiff City wideman managed to put it even further over the bar.

For Rovers, they will have eyes on pushing as close to the top half as possible and really look to be enjoying their football once again.