ROVERS Under-23s’ difficult start to life in Premier League 2 continued with a 3-1 defeat to West Ham United at Ewood Park.

It was a seventh loss in 11 league matches for Damien Johnson’s side after last season’s title winning campaign.

Xande Silva scored twice for the Hammers, who led as early as the fourth minute through Nathaniel Holland, before Joe Nuttall reduced the arrears.

Nuttall and Lewis Travis were involved from the start, while John Buckley, who trained with the first team during the international break, also featured.

It was from their own making which Rovers fell behind with just four minutes on the watch. Despite a warning moments before, goalkeeper Andrew Fisher tried to play out from the back, but his pass out to Tyler Magloire was intercepted, and comfortably finished by Holland.

Rovers’ response to falling behind was actually their best period of the match.

Lewis Thompson, back from his loan spell with FC United of Manchester, saw an effort tipped on to the bar by Nathan Trott who was also equal to a Brad Lyons shot.

But that threat begin to dissipate, before the visitors made it 2-0 just after the half hour mark. Holland was the provider this time, getting in behind Charley Doyle to square for Xande Silva to tap in for his first of the night.

Nuttall was being well shackled, denied by the sliding challenge of Josh Pask when he looked to be clean through on goal, as a wild shot shortly later summed up his opening 45 minutes.

The second half wasn’t four minutes long when the hosts put the game out of sight. It was all too easy from a Rovers point of view as Silva was allowed to race on to a long ball forward, curling past Fisher having held off Magloire.

Although Rovers made an attacking change, sending on Okera Simmonds in a move to 4-3-3, only a smart save from Fisher from a Moses Makasi shot stopped them from falling further behind.

The introduction of Stefan Mols sparked some life in to Rovers in the 67th minute. His first involvement saw him tripped in the box, with Nuttall's spot-kick just enough to beat Trott.

Sensing a possible way back in to the game, Rovers attacked with more purpose, as Thompson, one of the better performers on the night. flashed another shot wide.

Rovers were coming on strong, but without a flurry of chances, as several moves broke down around the Hammers' 18-yard box.

They were however, caught out trying to play out from the back with nine minutes to go, as Joe Powell won possession before drawing an excellent save from Fisher.

 The last action saw West Ham substitute Jahmal Hector-Ingram rattle the bar from 10 yards.

Rovers: Fisher, Doyle, Magloire (Simmonds, 56), Grayson, Carter (Mols, 67), Buckley, Travis, Thompson (Paton, 78), Lyons, Butterworth, Nuttall