BLACKBURN Rovers Under 18s secured another impressive win, this time at the expense of Stoke City.

Gary Bowyer's side have now won seven out of eight matches in the league after Bryan Hodge's early goal proved decisive in the Potteries.

And the margin of Rovers' 1-0 victory could have been even more emphatic had their finishing matched some of the neat approach play.

The visitors assumed control from the opening whistle and it took them just 60 seconds to break the deadlock.

Good work down the left resulted in a powerful shot from Ralph Welch being blocked but the ball dropped invitingly for Hodge who drilled a low shot past the keeper.

Rovers dominated much of the first half after that and Keith Barker was only denied a second by some resolute defending.

Stoke cranked up the pressure in the second half following a tactical reshuffle but they met stubborn resistance as Rovers denied them a way back.

"I feel we should have won more comfortably looking at the chances we created," said Bowyer.

"I'm pleased overall, though, because when we had to defend, we did it well and looked solid."