A STUNNING Joe Rankin-Costello strike set Rovers’ impressive young guns on their way to a derby victory which would have been more emphatic had it not been for the heroics of Nick Pope.

Rankin-Costello and Lewis Mansell netted inside the space of 10 first-half minutes as Damien Johnson’s side got their Premier League Cup campaign off to the perfect start at Ewood Park.

Rovers Under-23 boss Johnson said: “We played some terrific stuff and we were delighted with the performance.

“You don’t want be too critical (that Rovers didn’t score more) because we made good runs, the balls through were great, and Pope is a good goalkeeper. He was in good form – and he needed to be.

“On and off the ball we were terrific, we caused them a lot of problems, and I think we were thoroughly deserved winners.”

Mansell saw an early shot saved by £1m summer signing Pope but there was little in the Group B opener until the deadlock was broken in the 19th minute.

Willem Tomlinson swept a pass out to the left where eventually Rankin-Costello brought the ball under his control before cutting inside and bending it beautifully into the top corner from 20 yards.

Lancashire Telegraph:

It was the 17-year-old’s first goal of the campaign. He may not score a better one.

From then on Rovers dominated and the advantage was duly doubled 10 minutes later.

Joe Grayson, son of Preston North End manager Simon, swung over a deflected cross into the box where Mansell nipped in ahead of Rankin-Costello to take his tally for the term up to three.

Burnley responded well to falling behind with Rovers captain Scott Wharton making a vital interception.

But that was the closest the Clarets would go for some time as their rivals, inspired by the superb Rankin-Costello, stepped up the pace after the restart.

Rankin-Costello volleyed over a cross from Connor Mahoney, who played on through the pain of a foot injury, before Tomlinson fired inches wide at the end of a flowing move.

Burnley did go on to threaten with Arlen Birch flicking a header from a Mark Howarth corner just wide.

But Rovers would have been out of sight had it not been for Pope who made a hat-trick of one-on-one stops from Mansell.

All three chances were set up by Rankin-Costello who earned a richly deserved round of applause when he was taken off.

Pope went on to save from Jack Doyle, who had earlier teed-up Mansell for an opportunity he should have taken, and then from Grayson. 

Rovers: Fisher, Nyambe, Doyle, Grayson, Platt, Wharton, Mahoney (Howarth 82), Tomlinson, Mansell, Hardcastle, Rankin-Costello (Pemberton 78). Subs not used Magloire, Ascroft, Travis.

Burnley: Pope, Birch, Wilson, Yao (Bayode 61), Younger, Dunne (Pingling 78), Jackson, Howarth (Olomowewe 90), Chakwana, McNeil, Koike. Subs not used: Mitchell, Wood.

Attendance: 376.