BLACKBURN Rovers boss Billy Barr admitted his side were ‘second best from start to finish’ as they slipped to a second successive 3-2 Under-18 Premier League defeat.

Having gone down to title-challenging Everton on Saturday, Rovers were aiming to return to winning ways in their penultimate game of the regular North Division campaign when they welcomed Stoke City to their Brockhall base yesterday.

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But a goal at either end of the first half, and a third midway through the second, put the Potters fully in control.

And, although Rovers rallied with two late goals, they were merely consolation.

Barr said: “We were second best from start to finish. Too many of our players were below par today.

“We may have scored two late goals but it can’t mask what was a very disappointing display.

“We have to perform better in our final league game this Friday against Wolves.”

Thibaud Verlinden finished off a slick passing move to put Stoke in front inside five minutes.

And they then doubled their advantage in the 40th minute when Hakim Abdallah out-muscled Charley Doyle and fired home.

It got better for the Potters in the 57th minute when Abdallah again got the better of Doyle before squaring for Theo Brierley to score.

Rovers made changes in the closing stages and two substitutes combined to pull a goal back on 89 minutes as John Buckley’s centre was swept home by Alex Curran.

Then in added time Lewis Travis found Matthew Makinson in the area and the defender scored with a fine left-footed finish.

Rovers U21s, meanwhile, went down 3-0 at the iPro Stadium last night to a strong Derby County team that went five points clear at the top of U21 Premier League Division Two.

The scoring was opened by former England striker Darren Bent, who was partnered up front by new £3m signing Nick Blackman, and was rounded off by Shaquille McDonald after Ivan Calero had doubled Derby’s advantage against the run of play.

Rovers boss Damien Johnson said: “Between them scoring their first goal and their second I thought we were the better team.

“But then we lost our way, our confidence was knocked, we lost momentum, and our heads dropped, which was disappointing.

“I felt the scoreline was harsh and not really a fair reflection of the game but it was a great learning experience for our young defenders against top international players.

“It was disappointing to lose but it is vital that they learn from the experience. That is the challenge for them.”