ANTHONY Stokes and Matthew Platt both scored twice for Blackburn Rovers Under-23s as they beat their Burnley counterparts 4-0 in the Premier League 2 Cup.

Rovers scored four unanswered goals in the second half to move three points clear of the Clarets in the quest to progress from Group B.

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Stokes found the net just 60 seconds in to the second half, before doubling his tally with 17 minutes to go. 

Platt would score twice with his head in the 56th and 77th minutes to give Rovers victory at Morecambe’s Globe Arena.

Burnley had started the brighter of the two sides, having joy with two early set plays.  The referee’s whistle came to Rovers’ rescue from a right wing corner, but a Josh Ginnelly free-kick in the fourth minute was met by Oliver Younger, but the defender couldn’t keep his header down.

Joe Rankin-Costello started to get on the ball more for Rovers however, and with that came Rovers’ first chance in the ninth minute. 

He spun away from his man in the centre of the pitch, before sliding in Connor Thomson whose goalbound effort was well blocked by Younger.

They were to go close moments later, only for Anthony Stokes’ free-kick to find the side netting after Lewis Travis had been fouled by Aiden O’Neill on the edge of the Clarets area.

Burnley’s best chances continued to come from set plays, with a Ginnelly free-kick causing yet more danger with 14 minutes on the watch.  His inswinging delivery went over everyone, forcing a smart save from Andrew Fisher who did well to tip over.

Dan Agyei was a powerful presence at the head of the Clarets attack, and looked to have his first sight of goal in the 15th minute, only to be denied by an excellent covering tackle from Matthew Platt, just as the striker was about to shoot.

The best Rovers play continued to come through Rankin-Costello, with his neat backheel putting Connor Mahoney in, but the winger took the wrong option, attempting to try and squeeze the ball in at the near post, only to find the side netting.

Fisher had been the busier of the keepers in the opening quarter however, gathering a Jamie Thomas 25-yarder on the bounce, with Rovers grateful to him again on the half hour mark.  George Green showed excellent feet on the edge of the box to give Platt the slip on the edge of the box, but his effort was excellently denied by the Rovers stopper.

Aiden O’Neill fired over from the resulting corner as Burnley continued to press in what was a really competitive affair.

Connor Mahoney hadn’t seen much of the ball, but came up with the best pass of the game which gave Willem Tomlinson the chance to put Rovers in front.  His 40 yard through-ball with the outside of his left foot sent the midfielder away, but he somewhat panicked in front of goal and could only toe-poke it wide as Burnley started to get bodies back.

Rovers were starting to enjoy more of the ball as the half-time whistle approached, playing some neat interplay, without forcing that real stand-out chance.  That was until Lewis Travis slipped in Rankin-Costello, but from a tight angle he again tried to find the near post, only to see his effort hit the side netting.

Just a minute was on the watch at the start of the second half when Rovers took the lead through Anthony Stokes.  The striker did well to get in front of his man at the near post top flick in a Connor Mahoney left-wing corner.

Burnley weren’t to be downhearted though, with Dan Agyei heading over a Arlen Birch cross as the Clarets tried to muster a response.

But Rovers were on the look-out for a second, with Anthony Stokes volleying wide a Lewis Harcastle cross, before Rankin-Costello headed a delivery from the same player just wide as Damien Johnson’s side started to turn the screw.

And in the 56th minute they were to get their reward from another Mahoney set play, as Platt’s header proved too strong for Connor Mitchell as it found the corner.

Mahoney had two assists, and went in search of a goal himself, forcing a save from Mitchell with his 25-yarder, having seen a free-kick sail just wide of the post moments before.

Burnley steadied the ship somewhat after Rovers impressive start to the second period saw them enjoy control of the game.

But with 17 minutes remaining, Stokes picked up his second of the game.  It was another neat finish from the striker, turning in a Connor Thomson left-wing cross.

Burnley made all their three changes in a bid to force a way back in to it, and their best move of the second half ended with O’Neill testing Fisher who made a smart save at his near post.

Platt was to extend Rovers’ lead however, as his lopping header found the corner from Lewis Hardcastle’s delivery as Damien Johnson’s men scored a fourth.

The defender almost got his hat-trick, seeing a late header saved, moments after Lewis Travis had seen his shot palmed away by Mitchell.

Rovers: Fisher, Travis, Platt, Brown, Doyle, Mahoney (Mols, 82), Hardcastle, Tomlinson, Thomson (Grayson, 82), Rankin-Costello, Stokes (Mansell, 82)

Subs: Magloire, Powell

Burnley: Mitchell, Clarke, Younger, Dunne, Birch, Jackson (Koiki, 63) Thomas (McNeil, 70), O'Neil, Ginnelly, Green (Wood, 74), Agyei

Subs: Aghayere, Chakwana