Jon Dahl Tomasson hailed Dilan Markanday and Harry Leonard after the young duo were on target during the 2-1 win against West Brom on the opening day.

The pair struck in a ruthless two-minute spell as Rovers wrestled control of the game midway through the first half.

Matt Phillips pulled one back after the break, but Tomasson’s side held on to secure all three points against the Baggies.

“It is great to see, and especially to see all those young lads,” said the Rovers boss. “I think we were just below 24 in our average age today.

“Harry started at the Academy when he was 10. The first thing I said after the game was, ‘well done Harry, you played a great game and scored a great goal’.

“He said, ‘I should have had a hat trick’. That is the ambition of the boy.

“It is also good to see Dilan, we all know he had a difficult period as well. He came back to pre-season with the right attitude and has been working hard, doing the right things.”

Rovers could have extended their lead during the second half, with Leonard going close on a couple of occasions.

“It was an exceptional win and performance,” Tomasson added. “We scored two great goals and should probably have had a third, fourth or even fifth against one of the best teams in the league.

“The intensity of the team was very good. I think we played some good football as well.

“First half, I was not totally happy with our performance but we scored two great goals.

“Second half, I thought we were the better team. We gave away a stupid goal, an unnecessary goal, I was not happy with that one.

“But it was great to see almost 17,000 here at Ewood and the togetherness. The atmosphere was brilliant and after the game, even in the rain, watching some of those fans with smiles on their faces. That is football.”

The Rovers boss made a double change just before the hour mark in an attempt to swing the momentum back in his side’s favour, with Adam Wharton and Ryan Hedges both joining the fray.

“We had a difficult start (to the second half) and gave that unnecessary goal away,” he explained.

“Then the momentum was changing a bit so I think the subs helped in that way. We created a couple of good chances afterwards, really 100 per cent chances where normally you score goals.

“But at the end of the day, when you start a new season you want to start with three points.

“It will be a long season and there will be ups and downs, but it is always nice to have the three points at our fortress.”