MATTY Platt believes the Checkatrade Trophy provides the perfect platform for the Rovers youngsters to impress, and says they will be doing all they can to progress in next month’s final group game.

Rovers were beaten 1-0 by Bury in their second group game on Tuesday at Ewood Park, but travel to Spotland to face Rochdale on November 7 knowing a win would almost guarantee them a place in the knockout stages.

Platt made his senior debut in the win over Stoke City Under-21s last month, and celebrated his 20th birthday with a first start for the club in the Shakers defeat.

“The Checkatrade Trophy is the perfect platform for young players to play first-team football and make your mark in this competition,” Platt said.

“In this competition it gives us a chance to impress against a proper League One side in Bury.

“It gives us a chance for the gaffer to look at us against proper men.

“They’re the type of teams the first-team play and if we can play against those teams that’s what we have to do to look to play on a regular basis in the league.

“We will be looking to put it right at Rochdale.

“It’s a competition we want to do well and if the young lads get a chance we will look to get that win and try and progress through to the knockout stages.”

Platt was one of six homegrown players who featured on Tuesday night having played in the competition last season when Rovers were one of the 16 Category One Academy sides.

On facing League One opposition, he added: “There were a lot of differences.

“The strikers are more physical, the pace of the game is quicker, they were the two main differences.

“You have to be organised, always to be talking to your fellow defenders and to put your mark on the game and try and do as best as you can.

“There were a lot of young lads that came on and we were a bit disappointed that we didn’t put our mark on the game and impress the gaffer like we would have wanted.

“We have to carry on working hard and hopefully do it in the future.”

Platt was part of a young Rovers backline who coped well with Bury's experienced attacking trio for much of the game.

Andrew Fisher made a string of impressive saves, while Platt and Ryan Nyambe made several good interceptions and blocks.

But going forward Rovers struggled, managing just two shots on target throughout the 90 minutes, the first of which didn’t arrive until the 42nd minute.

“We started slow and never really got going through the game,” Platt told the club’s official website.

“I think that cost us in the end.

“In one of those games you need to get a lead, maybe nick a goal and hang on, but they put us under a lot of pressure and that paid off in the end.

“The first goal in any game is key, if we had got it then it might have gone the other way.

“They got it and it and we found it difficult to get back in the game.

“Hopefully in the next game against Rochdale we will put it right.”