TWO-GOAL hero Matt Jansen believes last night's Worthington Cup triumph at Portsmouth can prove just the confidence booster that Blackburn Rovers need as they return to the more-important matter of promotion points at West Bromwich Albion on Saturday.

Rovers boss Brian Kidd made wholesale changes at Fratton Park last night, giving midfielder Wayne Gill his first senior appearance and also handing latest signing Steve Harkness a brief taste of action as a substitute.

But, even though he was delighted by the the performance and 3-0 first leg victory to set up what should be a place in the third round, Kidd seems likely to press ahead with his search for another experienced midfield player to compensate for the long-term injuries that are threatening the only vulnerable part a very strong squad.

Rovers do not want to leave anything to chance over the coming months, or they might have cause to regret it.

Jansen, one of the players rested last night - goalkeeper John Filan was another - stepped off the substitutes' bench to cover himself in cup glory with the goals that have surely clinched the tie.

"It's good to get off the mark," said Jansen.

"You can get left behind otherwise and it starts playing on your mind.

"I was just pleased to get a goal and a good win.

"We didn't play our strongest side but it just shows how good our squad is in depth.

"That is going to tell at the end of the season if we can keep all these players together.

"It takes the pressure off a little bit (for the second leg) and it's also confidence building.

"It's good for us and, hopefully, we can take that into Saturday's game and get a result there.

"I was up for it. The gaffer rested a few and said he was going to rest me. But I just felt like playing, I was feeling sharper and I was pleased to get on and get a couple of goals." For Gill, there was a long-awaited first start at senior level after being on the bench a couple of times.

He has been at Ewood for a number of years, working his way through the ranks and coming back from serious injury to finally get his eagerly-awaited chance.

"With all the troubles I have had with my knee, I was just delighted to be back involved in the first team," said Gill.

"The gaffer's been brilliant, he's given me an opportunity and I am just delighted we have got a result.

"I had a lot of problems with my patella tendon and had two operations on it.

"Other players have gone past me but you have to keep yourself going. There's no point sulking, you have to keep plugging away.

"Hopefully that's all behind me now and I just want to look forward to the future."

Kidd was pleased for his players that they claimed a result which should make next Wednesday's second leg a formality.

"I was disappointed with the last 10 minutes because I thought we got careless," he said.

"But those are the demands we put on the players. I wasn't surprised by the score because I expect good results, that's what we are looking for.

"Some people don't realise the problems we have had and I am so pleased about the result for the players because they have worked so hard. They deserve that.

"We are in a rebuilding situation and we are getting a decent balance to the squad.

"But we are struggling a bit in midfield because of the injuries. There are going to be 50-odd games this season and you have to be able to compete.

"Gilly came in and did well and Steve Harkness was able to get on and play in midfield.

"You do need people who can play different positions. But we are getting there and the players deserve the credit. They have worked so hard ever since I came to Blackburn."

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