- by Tony Bluff at Keepmoat Stadium

On a warm, sunny summer's evening the Rovers played their first pre-season friendly against League opposition, Premier League West Bromwich Albion, at the Keepmoat. The Rovers kicked off and went straight on to the attack, with Coppinger getting down the right to the corner flag before crossing to the far post for Shiels to head over. Continuing to attack over the early minutes, Coppinger again showed up with a shot from 25yards that Kiely saved comfortably. In the fifth minute the visitors saw the Rovers goalposts for the first time and forced three successive corners, which were successfully defended. The Rovers were having their fair share of the possession and after 12 minutes good work on the left by Sharp led to Shiels shooting wide of the far post. The match settled down and was being played at a sedate pace, with both teams concentrating on their passing skills. Brunt had a 30yarder saved by Sullivan and a corner to the visitors was well defended by the Rovers. On the half hour a free kick to the Rovers just outside the Albion penalty area was defended and minutes later, a free kick to the Baggies near the right corner flag was headed away by the Rovers defence. In the 34th minute, good work on the Rovers right by Coppinger, Gillett and Sharp gave Sharp a chance at goal from 20yards but he was narrowly wide with his left footed effort. Minutes later and a free kick on the Rovers left from Woods skimmed off the head of Ibanez and looked likely to go in the net but Kiely was alert enough to make the save. As time ran down to the break, whilst it looked as if the only way to score would come from a setpiece, nothing came from a corner to each side.

Half time - Rovers 0 West Bromwich Albion 0

Each side made one substitution at the start of the second half, with Sam Hird coming on for Mustapha Dumbuya, who was receiving treatment for an injury as the half-time whistle went. Six minutes in and a cross from the Albion right to the far post was headed wide of an open goal by Brunt from five yards. The Rovers then got a grip on the game and in the 60th minute broke the deadlock. Sharp received on the left touchline, put inside to Gillett, who fed SHIELS to go round a defender and rifle into the far corner of the net. As the Rovers made a series of substitutions the Baggies tried hard to hit back, with Miller having a good chance in the 68th minute but after rounding Sullivan he finished up on the byline and had to pass back and see a team-mate have a shot deflected over the bar. With all the substitutions by the Rovers it was no surprise to see the Albion have most of the play but they certainly didn't have it all their own way with the trialists showing up quite well. In the 80th minute, a cross from the Rovers left had players queuing up to shoot but several attempts were blocked before a trialist fired over. Six minutes later and three successive tries from the Albion were all blocked in the six yard box. The final whistle went on an entertaining game with the Rovers getting the one goal for victory

Teams - ROVERS - Neil Sullivan; Mustapha Dumbuya, Shelton Martis, Adam Lockwood, James O'Connor; Dean Shiels, Brian Stock, Simon Gillett, Martin Woods; James Coppinger, Billy Sharp

Subs used - Sam Hird for Dumbuya 46mins; James Hayter for Coppinger 51mins; Trialist for Lockwood 51 mins; Trialist for Gillett 63mins; Steve Brooker for Sharp 66mins; Josh Payne for Shiels 72mins; Trialist for Stock 78mins; Trialist for Woods 78mins; Waide Fairhurst for Martis 84mins;

Subs not used - Robbie Clark, Gary Woods gk,

West Bromwich Albion - Dean Keily; Gianni Zuiverloon, Joe Mattock, Yousouf Mulumbu, Pablo Ibanez, Gabriel Tamas, James Morrison, Steven Reid, Giles Barnes, Ishmael Miller, Chris Brunt

Subs used - Jonas Olsson for Ibanez 46mins; 14 for Tamas 66mins; 16 for Mulumbu 66mins; 17 for Miller 78mins;
Subs not used - Abdouliye Melte, Leon Barnet, Reuben Reid, Marcus Haber, George Thomas, Lateef Elford-Alliyu, Scott Carson gk