ROVERS Under-23s signed off an excellent campaign with a 4-1 victory against West Bromwich Albion.

Damien Johnson’s side had already been crowned Premier League 2 Division 2 champions but claimed a 15th win from their 22 league matches after a late show at the Hawthorns.

Rovers led through Matty Platt’s 15th minute strike and they played the final hour against 10 men after Alex Bradley was shown a straight red card for a shocking lunge on Tyler Magloire.

Jonathan Leko equalised for the hosts midway through the second half but Dan Butterworth scored on his return from injury before Joe Nuttall and Lewis Mansell added the gloss with a goal each in injury time.

Rovers dominated from the start and took the lead in the 13th minute when Platt met a Joe Grayson corner at the near post to steer the ball under Alex Palmer.

The home goalkeeper was grateful to see Stefan Mols fire wide from 12 yards after a John Buckley cross wasn’t cleared, before Palmer denied the same player with a neat save from another right-wing cross.

Things threatened to boil over on the half hour mark when a frustrated Bradley thundered in on Magloire who was lucky to escape serious injury as the Baggies man was dismissed.

Within 60 seconds of playing against 10 men Rovers should have doubled their advantage. Good work from Mols freed Nuttall but, one-on-one with Palmer, the keeper denied his shot with his legs.

Rovers continued to probe for an opening against as the second half began.

Their dominance in possession and territory was struggling to bring too many clear-cut openings with Palmer saving well from Willem Tomlinson after he met a Grayson corner.

A rare foray forward midway through the half saw the hosts equalise against the run of play. The lively Callum Morton did well to hold off the attentions of Grayson before delivering a cross from which Leko couldn’t miss.

Butterworth made his return after three months out off the bench as Rovers pressed for a late winner.

And two chances in successive minutes saw them go close. First Tomlinson’s shot deflected agonisingly wide of the post before Palmer was equal to Nuttall’s effort from a well-worked Lewis Hardcastle corner.

Butterworth did make the breakthrough, thumping a shot in off the underside of the bar after Lewis Travis’ cross wasn’t cleared, before Nuttall and Mansell scored composed finishes in the dying seconds as Rovers celebrated their title success in style.