ERIC Kinder was left to reflect on an extremely satisfying evening which saw his Blackburn Rovers side progress to the quarter-finals of the U21s Premier League Cup – and saw the fit-again Tommy Spurr take a step closer to full fitness, writes Daniel Briggs.

Spurr, who has yet to feature for the senior side this season due to a persistent groin injury, came through 90 minutes of Monday night’s 3-2 victory over Aston Villa at Leigh Sports Village.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The popular left-back was accompanied in Kinder’s starting line-up by five players – David Raya, Jack O’Connell, Anthony O’Connor, John O’Sullivan and Jordan Slew – who have just returned to Rovers following loan spells away from the club.

But it was goals from Connor Mahoney, Dean Rittenberg and Bradley Bauress who swept Kinder’s side through to the last eight.

The Rovers U21s manager said: “We deserved the win.

“It would have been unfair on us had the game gone to extra-time.

“We created more chances than they did but made a couple of bad decisions for their two goals and paid the price for it.

“Saying that, I thought we played well all night.

“It made a big difference having some of the lads back from their loan spells because they’ve all gained valuable experience playing for tough managers in the Football League.

“We were pleased for Tommy Spurr too.

“He did extremely well to get through the 90 minutes, which we weren’t expecting.

“We couldn’t push him any further so had the match gone to extra time, Jack Doyle would have come on to replace him.”

Rovers reward for beating Villa is a testing trip to St James’ Park to take on a Newcastle United team who ran out 3-1 winners when the sides clashed in the league last month.

Kinder said: “It will be tough going up to Newcastle in the next round.

“They showed how good they were when they played us earlier in the season.

“Some of the older players may go back out on loan, so when we go there we might have a young team again.

“But it’s important they go out on loan to gain experience.”