BLACKBURN Rovers tonight went down to a 1-0 U21s Premier League defeat to in-form Chelsea.

A fine finish midway through the first half from Islam Feruz was enough to settle a match played at Chelsea's Cobham Training Centre in Surrey.

Rovers, who fielded their youngest starting XI of the season with all but three players eligible to represent the club's U18s side, would have been further behind at the break had it not been for goalkeeper David Raya.

But Eric Kinder's side improved after the restart and, after debutant Luke Wall had their first sight at goal, Hugo Fernandez missed a good chance to equalise.

Chelsea's victory stretched their unbeaten league run to 11 matches.