Rovers Under-23s boss Billy Barr says a ‘disastrous’ spell in defeat at Manchester United, which saw them lose top spot in Premier League 2, must be put ‘into context’.

United’s £30m summer signing Amad Diallo claimed three assists, and also got himself on the scoresheet, as the hosts ran in four unanswered goals in just over 10 minutes to claim a 6-4 victory over Rovers.

Barr’s side had led 1-0 and 2-1 before building up a 4-2 advantage before the hour mark after goals a brace from Connor McBride as well as goals from Sam Barnes and Joe Nolan. However, United scored three times between minutes 72 and 78, before adding another before the final whistle, to give an undeserving look to the scoreline.

Corry Evans was playing his second comeback appearance for the Under-23s, after three months out with a hamstring injury, and was the only member of the squad to be over the age of 19. It was an inexperienced Rovers side, not least with nine possible starters having been loaned out last month, and Barr felt that showed.

As well as Diallo, Hannibal Mejbri (signed for £10m from Monaco in 2019) were on target for the hosts, while Shola Shoretire scored a hat-trick, the teenager now tipped to train with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's first team in the coming weeks.

“Their three quick goals kill the game for us, but we have to put it into context as well,” he said.

“We’re playing against a side who have splashed £50m or £60m on their team, while I don’t think we’ve splashed £50 or £60 for ours.

“So from that point of view, we deserve credit to get to 4-2 up.”

The defeat was Rovers’ first on the road this season having won five and drawn two of their previous seven away fixtures.

Barr felt the departure of Evans, who got 70 minutes under his belt, was key, and despite the obvious quality in the United ranks, he felt his side should have stood up better to their pressure.

He added: “It was a six minute spell that brought three goals, which was preventable, in my opinion.

“We started the second half really well to get our 4-2 lead and it all came from making good passes.

“We said at half time that we didn’t keep the ball well enough but we started well in the second half, got the goals, and when Corry came off it was about who was going to be the one to take charge.”

“We’ve spoken after the game about seeing things out, not letting them have the ball back from the kick-off.

“We’ve come here, we went 4-2 up but it was only really the last 20 minutes that was a disaster.”

Rovers will look to respond when the host Southampton next Friday where Barr will look to call upon some more experienced players at this level such as Lewis Thompson and Ben Paton who have sat out the last two games.

“There’s loads of learning to be done and we also have to remember that it’s our first away defeat of the season, so we deserve credit for the run.” Barr said.

“We can look at some bits in a positive way, but the final 20 minutes was disastrous for us as a group, not through one or two individuals, as a group.”