A BLACKBURN Rovers XI enjoyed a good workout against Fleetwood Town at the Highbury Stadium on Monday evening.
The Blue Square North side were worthy opponents in a game in which Rovers were able to give several stars meaningful time on the pitch as the game ended 1-0 in Rovers' favour
One of those stars was Yildiray Basturk who caught the eye with a 45 minute cameo display on his debut outing in a Rovers shirt.
The Turkish international was at the heart of everything that was good in the first half. The best chance coming when the former Stuttgart midfielder threaded the ball through to Junior Hoilett but he shot straight at the goalkeeper.
In a half in which the visitors had the better of the play, Aaron Doran, Maceo Rigters and Hoilett all saw shots at goal saved by Town 'keeper Danny Hurst.
Basturk was the only change at the break, his place taken by Nick Blackman, and it was the other January signing Amine Linganzi that started to have a growing influence on the game, neat and tidy on the ball, the young Frenchman looked as bright as his yellow boots.
The home side started the second half with chances of their own, Thomas Cahill saw his near post shot beaten away by Rovers 'keeper Jake Kean, then Stephen Torpey fired narrowly wide.
Blackman fired just wide for Rovers after a strong run, whilst Hoilett saw his well struck effort tipped over.
The only goal of the game came with 18 minutes to go and it was worth the wait. Aaron Doran picking the ball up 25 yards out before clipping a superb right-foot shot into the top right corner of the goal to cap a lively evening from the Irishman.
Junior Hoilett and Lars Jacobsen came through 65 minutes, whilst Vince Grella got 78 minutes under his belt.
Amine Linganzi played the full game on an evening when the young midfielder, and the experienced Basturk caught the eye at a chilly Fleetwood.
ROVERS: Kean, Jacobsen (sub Ramm 65 mins), Hanley, Lowe, C. O'Connor, Grella (c) (sub Santa Cruz 78 mins), Linganzi, Basturk (sub Blackman 46 mins), Doran, Hoilett (sub Potts 65 mins), Rigters.
Subs not used: Swann (GK), Morris, A. O'Connor.
Attendance: 441
Pictures courtesy of Fleetwood Town FC
