Rovers Under-23s boosted their Premier League 2 survival hopes with a comprehensive win at Tottenham Hotspur.

Jack Vale, a Dan Butterworth penalty, and late Joe Rankin-Costello strike saw Damien Johnson's side to victory in their first match since March 16.

The three points move saw them leapfrog West Ham, and with two games remaining, they are two places, and three points above the dropzone.

Rovers host Manchester City at Ewood Park on Monday, April 15 and victory over City would see them leapfrog their opponents and all but guarantee a second season of top flight Academy football.

Central midfielder Jacob Davenport travelled with the squad as he continues to build his fitness with the Under-23s, following two long-term injuries, but there was no Harry Chapman or Joe Nuttall.

Vale led the line in Nuttall's absence and needed just three minutes to put the visitors ahead, heading in a cross from Stefan Mols.

The Wales youth international went close to a second shortly afterwards, only for goalkeeper Brandon Austin to deny him with a smart save.

Rovers didn't have to wait long for their second goal, however. Referee David Rock pointed to the spot after Butterworth was tripped by midfielder Harvey White. The Rovers attacker picked himself up and dispatched the penalty to make it 2-0.

Going with their usual 3-4-3 formation Rovers restricted the visitors' opportunities. Indeed, Dennis Cirkin’s rasping 25 yard strike, tipped behind by Charlie Albinson on the half hour mark, would prove to be the closest the hosts went at the Lamex Stadium, following the switch from the original venue of Spurs' new state-of-the-art stadium.

And it was Rovers who were looking the most likely to grab a third, with Vale going close to his second of the night in the 33rd minute with his header, before seeing an effort well blocked.

In the second half, Rovers' domination continued as Butterworth struck the post with his shot from just inside the box.

Try as they might, with the introduction of three second half substitutes, Spurs just couldn't find a way through.

One of those, Troy Parrott, headed wide from a corner, before Rovers got the third goal their play deserved.

Butterworth fed Rankin-Costello, who, fresh from signing a new two year deal at the club, cut in from the right to score with a curling left footed effort, his third goal in his last two games.

As well as next week's visit of City, Rovers round off their season with a trip to Liverpool on Monday, April 29.

In between that comes the Premier League Cup quarter final with Everton on Tuesday, April 23 (7pm) at Goodison Park, with Swansea City awaiting the winners in the last four.

Also to squeeze in before the end of the season is a Lancashire Senior Cup final against Burnley.

Rovers: Albinson, Doyle, Thompson, Davenport, Magloire (Annesley 9), Carter, Rankin-Costello (Pike 90), Buckley, Vale, Butterworth (Whitehall 86), Mols

Not used: Eastham, Saadi.