Sam Gallagher, Joe Rankin-Costello and Aynsley Pears all got valuable minutes in a behind-closed-doors friendly against Brazilian top flight side ED Bahia.

The game, which was played at Manchester City’s Academy, finished 3-2 after Dilan Markanday, Adam Wharton and Semir Telalovic were on target for Rovers, who fielded two separate teams in each half.

Gallagher and Rankin-Costello, who both came off the bench against West Brom last weekend, are still building up their fitness following spells out of action.

Meanwhile, Pears has not featured for the first team since October after breaking two metatarsals against Leicester. Summer signing Leo Wahlstedt has had a run in the side in Pears’ absence.

Harry Pickering returned after missing the West Brom trip through illness, while loan signings Yasin Ayari and Ben Chrisene were also involved.

The Brazilian outfit went ahead inside the opening five minutes when Jean Lucas picked out the bottom corner with a clinical finish.

The equaliser came when Markanday was in the right place to slot home after Wharton’s initial shot was saved.

Rovers took the lead moments later when Wharton won back possession high up the pitch before firing home.

There were 11 changes at the break but Rovers picked up where they left off, with Telalovic providing a cool finish after he was played in by Rankin-Costello.

Bahia pulled one back just after the hour mark when Everaldo found a way past Wahlstedt with a low drive across goal.

The Brazilian side were soon back on level terms when Everaldo’s deflected strike nestled in the top corner.

Rovers will be hoping to return to winning ways in the Championship this weekend when they welcome Huddersfield to Ewood Park.

The Terriers are four points above the drop zone and have failed to win any of their last four games in all competitions. However, they secured a comfortable 3-0 victory when the sides met in Yorkshire on Boxing Day.

First half: Pears, Brittain, Carter, Gamble, Pickering, A. Wharton, Ayari, Markanday, Szmodics, Leonard, Gallagher.

Second half: Wahlstedt, Rankin-Costello, Hyam, S. Wharton, Chrisene, Tronstad, Edmondson, Garrett, Moran, Ennis, Telalovic