BLACKBURN Rovers’ under 18s slipped to a narrow 2-1 defeat to Middlesbrough at Brockhall.

Gary Bowyer’s side started strongly with Jason Banton seeing four good chances in quick succession, while at the other end Josh Swann saved well at the near post in an even first 45 minutes.

It was Zac Aley who gave Rovers the lead on 52 minutes, latching onto a through ball from Tom Hitchcock to fire home for his second goal in succession for the Academy.

But there’s a phrase that you are always at your most vulnerable when you’ve just scored and that proved to be the case when Middlesbrough levelled just 60 seconds later.

A cross from the right saw Boro striker Wyke rise highest to head home.

Aley missed a great chance to put Rovers back in the lead after good work from Banton and Hitchcock, whilst Jason Banton raced through but shot wide.

Those missed chances proved pivotal as Middlesbrough broke to score a second as the ball was squared to the back post where the Boro man made no mistake with 10 minutes remaining.

Then the visitors almost added a third late on when a shot from distance cracked off the top of the bar.

ROVERS: Swann, Lindsay, Ajagbe, Knowles (sub Hands 63 mins), A. O’Connor, Pearson, Evans, Bowen, Hitchcock (sub Vastiæ 68 mins), Aley, Banton (sub Rustemaj 77 mins).

Subs not used: Urwin MIDDLESBROUGH: Ripley, Oliver, Shead, K. Edwards, Bassi, Gibson, Fowler, Dolan, Wyke (sub Hawkins 62 mins), Gray (sub C. Edwards 68 mins), Park. Subs not used: Smith, Waters.