BLACKBURN Rovers Under-23s beat play-off rivals Fulham 3-2 in an entertaining Premier League 2 encounter at the County Ground in Leyland, writes Sam Jones. 

Damien Johnson's side made it five wins in their last six league outings to move in to the Division 2 play-off spots with one game remaining.

George Williams’ second-half strike gave the away side the lead, but Lewis Mansell hit back soon after. Defender Joe Grayson scored his first goal of the season to put Rovers in front, before Willem Tomlinson’s strike secured all three points, despite Williams grabbing a consolation deep in to injury time.

It was the visitors who created the opening chance of the game after 10 minutes. Mattias Kait ran down the right and crossed for Elijah Adebayo, whose back-heeled effort was saved by Andrew Fisher. 

Adebayo kept Fisher busy as he smashed a shot towards the near post that the Rovers stopper was down low to parry out for a corner. Lively left-back Adetayo Edun then got in behind the Rovers backline, but drilled his shot wide.

On the stroke of half-time Stephen Hendrie fashioned Rovers’ best opportunity of the first half as he fired a shot towards the top corner, but Magnus Norman was on hand to tip it over the bar. 

Rovers were much improved in the second period, but they fell behind on 53 minutes when George Williams was played through on goal and rounded Fisher before placing the ball into an empty net. 

However, Rovers responded two minutes later as Hendrie’s low cross picked out Mansell, who finished first time for his fifth league goal of the season. 

The chances continued to flow at both ends as Fisher was out quickly to deny Kait, who was foiled once again by the Rovers ‘keeper when his powerful shot was heading for the bottom corner. 

Rovers turned the game around courtesy of Lewis Hardcastle’s corner, which was lashed in by Joe Grayson from close range mid-way through the second half. 

They made it 3-1 with a quarter of an hour to play as Willem Tomlinson converted Connor Thomson’s cut back. And Rovers could have added to their lead had Daniel Butterworth found the net from another Thomson cross, but the striker’s effort went just over the bar. 

But in the fifth minute of stoppage time, Fulham got a goal back. Kait’s shot was parried by Fisher into the path of Williams, who couldn’t miss from five yards out. 

But Rovers continued their impressive form to move in to the top five ahead of their game against Aston Villa next Monday (7pm) at Ewood Park, a prequel to the first team game between the sides five days later. 

ROVERS: Fisher (GK), Travis, Hendrie, Tomlinson, Magloire, Grayson, Thomson, Hardcastle, Mansell, Butterworth (Mols; 89 mins), Rankin-Costello. 

Unused Subs: Doyle, Powell, Wright, Thompson.