Rovers were denied a third straight Premier League 2 win by a late Manchester United goal at Leyland.

Joe Hugill put United ahead inside 70 seconds, and levelled with two minutes of normal time to play, but Rovers had the better of things inbetween and would have been worthy their third straight win had the held on.

Connor McBride levelled from the penalty spot before Brad Lyons headed Rovers into the lead on the hour mark. Sam Burns had two effort saved by Ondrej Mantsy, while Luke Brennan was a constant threat.

But two close-range finishes from Hugill meant the game ended all square.

 

THE ACTION

The game was only 70 seconds old when United took the lead, Joe Hugill finding too much room in the area before stepping inside Joe Grayson and slotting out of the reach of Jordan Eastham and into the corner.

Rovers were shocked by that lax start, but weren’t put off from building from the back and also maintained their usual energy.

Jalil Saadi headed over a Lewis Thompson cross with Rovers’ first foray forward, while United showed pace on the break midway through the half as Eastham was forced into a smart save to deny the lively Anthony Elanga.

Charlie McCann had early seen a shot deflected over, but the final quarter of the half belonged to Rovers.

McBride took his tally to four goals in three games after he found the corner from the penalty spot after Isaac Whitehall’s shot hit a hand.

Ondrej Mastny got close to that effort, and needed to be at full stretch again to keep out a thumping Ben Paton effort from the edge of the box.

Luke Brennan also had a decent opening to put Rovers ahead, with United scrambling back to block his effort wide of the target after being teed up by Saadi.

Rovers almost took the lead in bizarre fashion early in the second half, McBride’s cross turned towards his own goal by the unbekowning Will Fish, the ball staying out via a combination of the post and goalkeeper Mastny.

The goalkeeper also did well to deny Hayden Carter’s header, with the ball scrambled clear before crossing the line by the covering Di’Shon Barnard, despite Rovers’ appeals to the contrary.

The breakthrough Rovers had threatened arrive on the hour mark, and was no less than they deserved. An overlap was worked on the right where Carter crossed, and although McBride sliced his attempted finish, Lyons rose highest to head home.

Rovers’ main worry was playing themselves in to trouble, Eastham forced into one hurried clearance, but that was the main bit of work in a second half the hosts had the better of it.

Sam Barnes curled over from a set play, with the main play spent in the United defensive third.

Eastham’s first save of the half was to keep a Barnard header out, with his subsequent kick forward freeing Burns who had an effort smartly saved by Mastny.

Burns was eager to make an impact, with Mastny making a smart save low to his left as the game became stretched.

The pace of Elanga had been United’ main threat all game, and it was his break that created an equaliser with two minutes to play, with Eastham only able to palm his cross into the path of Hugill who couldn’t miss.

Even then Rovers kept coming, Thompson’s header drifting just wide of the target as he guided Pike’s cross goalwards.

 

TEAM NEWS

There were nine changes made from the team which won so impressively against Leicester City on Monday, much of that owing to the game being played on the eve of a first-team fixture.

There was a return from injury for Hayden Carter, who lined up at right back, and Isaac Whitehall who played as part of a midfield three alongside Brad Lyons and Jalil Saadi, making his first start of the season.

Sam Barnes returned to the side in central defence alongside Joe Grayson who made his first start after injury, with left back Lewis Thompson one of two players, along with Lyons, to keep his place.

In attack Ben Paton played on the right, Luke Brennan the left, with Connor McBride leading the line.

The first change, shortly after Rovers made it 2-1, saw Dan Pike replace Grayson after 62 minutes, as Carter moved to centre half.

Lyons, on a booking, was replaced by Stefan Mols with 20 minutes remaining.

The final change was a straight swap up top as Sam Burns replaced McBride.

 

PLAYER WATCH

Luke Brennan was a star turn for Rovers Under-18s in their FA Youth Cup run last season and the first year pro be looking to cement his spot in the Under-23s this term.

Brennan’s strengths are clear, his ability to carry the ball at pace, with little difference between his dribbling and running speed.

That helps Rovers get up the pitch easily, and he gave Harvey Neville a tough time every time he picked the ball up.

His ability to dart inside, or go down the line, add a threatening dimension to his play, but he can at times be guilty of not picking his head up quickly enough to see those breaking alongside him.

There were several times when promising breaks didn’t end with a shot at goal after he picked the wrong option, largely after his own good work.  

He has shown an ability to take a chance, as he did when finding the net against Leicester, and went close to making it two in two, only for his first half shot to deflect just wide.

Got better as the game wore on at tracking back, but can only stay high knowing he has a solid defensive option in Lewis Thompson behind him.