Opposing View - Mark Hughes
BLACKBURN boss Mark Hughes was pleased with his side's night's work at the Racecourse Ground after Rovers got their pre-season preparations off to a winning start with a 2-1 victory thanks to goals from Jason Roberts and Robbie Savage.
"It is the first game of the season, the first pre-season preparation game," said Hughes after the game.
"Obviously in the second half we made a lot of changes and that affected the rhythm of the game somewhat but in the first half I was very pleased.
"It is a case of getting your second wind now and our next game is at the weekend and I'm sure we'll be significantly better."
Hughes named a strong starting eleven for the game, resisting the temptation to make wholesale changes at the half-time break with half an eye on the two Intertoto Cup games that are looming on the horizon.
"Obviously I kept certain senior players on a little bit longer than ordinarily I would do at this stage of the season," added Hughes. "I think that is important because we don't have a great deal of time before the Intertoto kicks off, so it is a case of giving as many senior players as much time as I could possibly give them.
"I've to try to get the whole squad fit as well so there were priorities tonight."
Hughes gave a debut to recent signing Maceo Rigters and the Dutchman looked lively in front of goal, but it was the return to action for Robbie Savage and Andre Ooijer that delighted the Rovers boss.
"It was important for them, they wanted to stay on a little bit longer in fairness to them, but I thought 45 minutes given the fact that they had been out for so long was exactly what they needed.
"They'll play again at the weekend and that will bring them on like it will with the rest of the squad.
"In fairness to them they've been working hard right through the summer so they are probably in better shape than the majority of the squad in fairness, but obviously what they are lacking is match fitness and that is what we are trying to put in them in these pre-season games."
