ROVERS boss Tony Mowbray reserved praise for his young side as they kicked off their Checkatrade Trophy campaign with a win against Stoke City Under-21s.

Joe Nuttall came off the bench to score the winner with 13 minutes to go, one of four debutants given a chance by Mowbray who made 10 changes from the side which beat MK Dons.

Andrew Fisher, Lewis Travis, Matty Platt and Nuttall all made their first-team debuts, while Jack Doyle and Willem Tomlinson made their first starts at senior level.

Mowbray had to name four players who either started the win over MK Dons, or who had over 40 league appearances, with Derrick Williams, Peter Whittingham, Ben Gladwin, Liam Feeney and Danny Graham providing the experience to the team.

And Mowbray said: “The main thing is that we won a football match which is always good.

“We were playing against an Under-21 side, plus Charlie Adam, and we managed to get the three points in the competition which is important to keep trying to win football matches.

“It wasn’t the greatest spectacle, but the positive was Joe Nuttall coming off the bench and looking really positive and direct and powerful.

“I was delighted for all the young lads, they all did well.

“I’m not standing here saying it was fantastic, it was an exercise that we got through and picked up the three points.”

The Under-23s have won their opening three matches of their league season, with Nuttall having score six times already.

He made it seven, turning the ball home after running on to a neat Harry Chapman throughball, as Rovers included seven players aged 20 or under throughout the game.

And when asked if that boded well for the future, Mowbray added: “I hope so.

“I think we have some talent.

“The Under-23s are showing that in their league programme and they need opportunities.

“When we’re in a position where we have to try and win every game because of the pressure and expectation it’s difficult sometimes to go to the younger players to get a victory, yet once the window shuts we might have to if we pick up injuries, which is why, in games like that, you try and blood a few of them so you know you can trust them if and when you need them.”