Damien Johnson highlighted the goal threat of Brad Lyons and Joe Nuttall as key to Rovers Under-23s’ win at Arsenal.

Lyons and Nuttall both scored twice in the 4-0 as Johnson’s side signed off 2018 with three consecutive wins.

They moved off the bottom of the Premier League 2 table with victory over Swansea City last week, a game in which both Lyons and Nuttall scored.

And after the pair built on that with braces against the Gunners at Boreham Wood, Johnson added: “It’s important to have people who are willing to get in the box and we know Brad can do that from his time at Coleraine.

“Joe’s been scoring regularly in recent weeks, and we know he is a goalscorer.

“Brad’s off and running now after scoring against Swansea last week, and he took his two goals well.

“But overall it was a great team performance from Andy Fisher in goal to Joe up front.”

Nuttall now has eight goals in his last four games for the Under-23s who had endured a difficult start to life in Premier League 2 after last season’s promotion.

Rovers remain second bottom of the table, ahead of their next match against Chelsea in January, but are already through to the last four of the Lancashire Senior Cup and in with a good chance of qualifying for the knockout stages of the Premier League Cup.

After the Arsenal win, which also saw Joe Rankin-Costello return from long-term injury, Johnson told the club website: “It was a pleasing result and performance.

“I’m really pleased with the boys and it was nice to continue our fine form with a third consecutive win.

“We were up against tough opponents who are above us in the league, away from home, so it is a very good result for us.”