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Paul Ince started his reign as a Premier League boss back at the club who gave him his first chance as a manager and picked up a comfortable 2-1 victory as Blackburn saw off Macclesfield with goals from David Dunn and Paul Gallagher.

England winger David Bentley was not involved because of a calf problem, although Ince later admitted that Aston Villa had submitted an offer for the player.

Roque Santa Cruz was also absent, still recovering from his World Cup exertions with Paraguay.

Christopher Samba saw a low header sail just wide and Benni McCarthy hit a post before Dunn worked his way through to fire in a clever goal three minutes from the break.

Rovers sent out a totally different 11 in the second period and were two ahead inside a minute when Gallagher header home a Tony Kane cross.

League Two side Macclesfield, who eventually avoided the drop last season under new boss Keith Alexander, pulled one back soon after when Martin Gritton side-footed home a Francis Green cross.

The appearance of Wayne Rooney's brother, John - who has just been given a two-year contract at Macclesfield - almost produced an equaliser with a late shot on the turn.

Giovani dos Santos was on target twice as Tottenham beat local side Tavernes 8-0 in a training ground friendly in Spain on Monday night.

Dos Santos, who arrived from Barcelona last month, produced an impressive display as Juande Ramos men stepped through the gears in the second half after Aaron Lennon had headed them in front in the first period.

Dos Santos was joined on the scoresheet by Jamie O'Hara and young striker Tomas Pekhart, who also both scored twice, and Steed Malbranque.

Hull stepped up their preparations for their first Premier League season with a routine 4-0 win over local amateurs North Ferriby.

Dean Marney and Will Atkinson were on target in the first half, with Michael Turner and Nick Barmby netting later on.

Manager Phil Brown took the opportunity to look at 23 players in the low-key, 70 minute contest, completely changing the team at half-time.

Csaba Laszlo's first experience in the Hearts dugout ended in a 6-5 penalty shootout defeat as Glentoran won the Umbro Trophy in Belfast.

The Edinburgh club's first pre-season friendly yielded a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes, with Romanian-born coach Laszlo picking the team just three days after his appointment.

Saulius Mikoliunas gave the visitors a fifth-minute lead with a 20-yard chip, but Glentoran levelled in the 71st minute thanks to Ryan Berry's 25-yard free-kick.

SportingLife / Eurosport