BLACKBURN Rovers Under-21 boss Eric Kinder was encouraged by the performance of his young side despite losing 1-0 to Middlesbrough in the U21s Premier League on Monday night, writes DANIEL BRIGGS.

Ryan Brobbel’s second-half header gave title-challenging Boro victory in a closely fought encounter at Leigh Sports Village.

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Rovers’ fifth consecutive league defeat was far from ideal preparation ahead of their much-anticipated Under-21 Premier League semi-final with holders Reading tomorrow night.

But Kinder was ‘delighted’ with the efforts of some of his younger, more inexperienced players.

He said: “It was disappointing to lose the game because it was a poor goal we gave away, but the result didn’t matter tonight; what did matter was that five or six young lads came in and had a go.

“Our philosophy at this club is about trying to produce players for the first-team and every opportunity that comes along to get a young player in the side, we will do so.

“I was absolutely delighted with Lewis Mansell who would have been a handful for anybody. We also had Lewis Hardcastle play the full 90 minutes, Willem Tomlinson come on, and Ryan Nyambe start at right-back.

“These are first-year scholars playing against a very talented Middlesbrough side.

“I was delighted with their performances.”