Blackburn Rovers player ratings as Jack Vale and John Buckley impress in Celtic draw

Blackburn Rovers stepped up their preparations for the new Championship season as a free-kick from Ben Brereton Diaz earned a 2-2 draw with Scottish champions Celtic.

Jon Dahl Tomasson's side got off to the perfect start as Sam Gallagher smashed them ahead inside 20 seconds. Jack Vale's clever reverse pass found the striker through on goal and he fired past Joe Hart.

Their joy was short-lived though as waves of Celtic pressure brought an equaliser. Joao Jota's fired towards goal after a corner-kick was only half cleared and the ball kissed Thomas Kaminski's post and found the net.

Rovers would then be handed some hard luck as Ross Turnbull's free-kick took a wicked deflection and completely wrongfooted Kaminski. That puts the Hoops 2-1 ahead in a frantic but enjoyable first half.

Gallagher tested the reflexes of substitute goalkeeper Ben Siegrist twice in the second half but couldn't find the equaliser. They would get their just rewards though as Brereton Diaz stepped up and curled a free-kick into the bottom corner.

Here's how scored the players' performances, with a six representing par for the course.

Could do very little about either of the first-half goals which both took deflections. Made some routine but solid saves.

Looked uncomfortable out at right-back in the first half. Celtic exploited both flanks really well but Carter looks more adept on the right of a back three or at centre-back. An area where Rovers definitely need to strengthen with a specialist option. Improved after the break after a difficult opening 45.

Looked a little bit lethargic when defending the wider spaces, at times. Would be undoubtedly better utilised in the centre of a back three. Still defends the 18-yard box very well and is a vocal