Blackburn Rovers striker nets as U21s beat Crystal Palace

Blackburn Rovers U21s beat Crystal Palace 1-0. <i>(Image: Crystal Palace)</i>
Blackburn Rovers U21s beat Crystal Palace 1-0. (Image: Crystal Palace)
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Harvey Higgins netted the winning goal for Blackburn Rovers Under-21s as they survived two penalties to beat Crystal Palace 1-0.

The teenage striker didn't travel with Rovers to Portsmouth and instead started up front for Paul Butler's side. He scored the decisive goal to earn all three points.

That was not before Palace had missed not one but two spot-kicks. Benji Casey’s penalty bounced off both posts before Seb Williams had a second spot-kick saved by Finley Taylor just before half-time.

Palace were then reduced to ten men on 70 minutes when Taha Majni was dismissed for a late challenge. Rovers took full advantage, with Higgins scoring less than 60 seconds later to earn the win.

The striker was first to react after an in-swinging Rovers corner had been turned goal wards, finishing from close range.

The victory ends a run of three successive defeats for Rovers. They are next in action on Monday, October 26, when they host West Brom.

Blackburn Rovers: Taylor; Houghton, Rice (Leatherbarrow, 74), Pitt (Mullarky-Matthews, 63), McIlroy, Dunn, Sergeant (Mbonzale, 90+3), Ball, Higgins, Outattara, Goremusandu (McCoy, 74).

Subs not used: Holt, Wardack.

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