ERIC Kinder is hoping for one more 'good night' in the U21s Premier League Cup to win the final.

Blackburn Rovers U21s have struggled for results in the U21s Premier League Division Two but have taken confidence from a cup run that has stretched all the way to the last two.

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On Monday night they held Southampton to a 0-0 draw in the first leg at Ewood Park.

Encouraged by his players’ work-rate, Kinder has urged them to go all-out to avoid Saints using home advantage in next Monday’s second leg at St Mary’s, and bring the trophy back to Lancashire.

“The whole idea was to stay in the game. If we took a 2-0 lead down there, great, but if we didn’t it was important we still had a chance of winning, and we certainly have,” said the Rovers U21s boss.

“I’m delighted with the players, I thought they were excellent. Their work ethic, which we’ve developed over the last few months, came into play. They ran themselves into the ground.

“People might say, ‘it’s easy to get yourself up for the final’, and maybe it is, but they did it on Monday and they did it well. I can’t (single) anyone out, I thought they were all magnificent.

“With a little bit more luck we could be going down there with a lead, but I’ll take a 0-0 draw. I’ve said all along, we want to be in a position where we can win it. It’s a straight 90-minute cup final with extra-time and penalties (if necessary).

“We know it’s all done and dusted on Monday, so let’s hope we’re the ones who are going up for that trophy.”

Kinder hopes the cup run will offer his players encouragement going into next season, after a difficult time in the league.

The U21s got off to a winning start, away to Brighton in August, but have won only twice since – the last of which came against West Brom at the end of last month.

The cup, however, has been a more favourable contest, with wins against Aston Villa, Newcastle United and Reading en route to the two-legged final.

“We’ve had some poor results at league level, and when you look at the opposition you’re playing against you can quite understand why,” said Kinder.

“The Arsenals and Manchester Uniteds that we’ve played against have had world class players.

“They’ve taken that on board and they didn’t fear anything on Monday. They didn’t know whether they had played for Southampton’s first team or Southampton’s netball team.

“We know the names on the teamsheet, but we kept that from them. They went out and I thought they did us proud and the club proud.”

Kinder added: “We’ve had some bad nights this year in the league, but the cup has been good to us.

“Let’s just hope we can have another really good night and finish it all off.”