A STUNNING Sam Gallagher strike four minutes into extra-time condemned Blackburn Rovers to a heartbreaking 2-1 defeat to 10-man Southampton in their U21s Premier League Cup final decider at St Mary’s Stadium.

Ryan Seager opened the scoring in the 52nd minute only for resilient Rovers to draw deservedly level in the 69th minute through Matt Targett’s own goal.

And their hopes of a shock showpiece success were raised when Harrison Reed was sent off in the 87th minute.

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But a goal of breathtaking quality from Gallagher won it for the older and more experienced Saints.

Rovers were forced to make one change to the side that started the first-leg 0-0 draw as Lewis Mansell replaced the injured Devarn Green.

The inclusion of Mansell, 17, in Eric Kinder’s line-up brought the average age of his team down to 18, two years younger than a Saints side whose starting XI contained nine players with first-team experience.

Underdogs Rovers, in contrast, could call on only two players who had appeared at senior level.

But they would have stunned the 12,356 home crowd early on had Paulo Gazzaniga not turned Sam Lavelle’s header onto the bar.

At the other end, an incredible block by Sam Jones stopped Seager from giving Southampton the lead after David Raya saved superbly from Jake Hesketh.

With respective first-team managers Gary Bowyer and Ronald Koeman watching on from the stands, the Saints could count themselves fortunate not to be reduced to 10 men on the stroke of half-time when Reed left his studs in on Rovers captain David Carson.

But Reed, for now, remained on the pitch and he had a hand in the game’s opening goal, his long-range effort deflecting into the path of Seager, who made no mistake.

Rovers, with Lewis Hardcastle, 16, a lively replacement for the injured Carson, responded strongly and it came as no surprise when they levelled the contest.

Jack Doyle turned the ball back to Bradley Bauress and, while his wonderfully inviting cross was missed by Mansell, it went in off Targett.

But it got worse for the Saints when Reed was shown his second yellow card for another late tackle, this time on Lavelle.

Rovers went in search of a dramatic winner and they should have been awarded a penalty in injury-time when substitute Hyuga Tanner was pulled back in the box.

With away goals not counting, an additional 30 minutes were required, and it was Southampton who got the only goal of extra-time when Gallagher cut in from the right and played a one-two before sending an unstoppable 20-yard shot past Raya.