Hull City boss Nigel Adkins said he always felt it be a ‘challenging fixture’ against Rovers after their 1-0 win at the KCOM Stadium.

Bradley Dack’s 43rd minute strike proved to be the difference to give Rovers a deserved first win of the season.

Were it not for hosts’ goalkeeper David Marshall then the scoreline would have been much more favourable to Tony Mowbray’s side who had a host of chances to seal the game before a fine late save from David Raya helped to see the game out.

“We knew it was going to be a challenging fixture. Tony has done a good job at Blackburn, they got promoted and they know what they are doing,” Adkins said.

“They have had time to put a squad together too.

“We gave a poor goal away just before half-time and the centre-half has got to deal with that far better to start off with.”

Marshall saved from Dack and Armstrong in the first-half, as well as Danny Graham in the second, with Adkins believing his side didn’t show enough quality in the final third as they chased an equaliser.

He added: “It was a challenging first-half, we had to be competitive. The second half we had more possession and opportunities. Their keeper made a great save on Jordy de Wijs’ header towards the end, and we did get the ball in the attacking third.

“But the quality that I know we do possess, we didn’t bring to the forefront enough, which we have been doing in the last several games.

“We have to give the opposition credit for their resolute defence. They were well equipped there and had some athleticism there with intelligent movement up front.

“We had good momentum in the second half but that subsided with stoppages in the game. That was our spell to go and get something and we didn’t capitalise on it.”

Adkins also reported good news on full-back Stephen Kingsley who was forced off following a nasty, but accidental, clash of heads with Kasey Palmer.

“Stephen had a nasty clash of heads. He’s fine, he showered and he’s up and walking around,” Adkins confirmed.

“He was very close to me – it was a bad collision. We have good medical staff who dealt with the situation very well.”