Joe Rankin-Costello got more valuable minutes into his legs as Rovers and Tottenham drew 1-1 in feisty Premier League 2 encounter.

Sam Burns scored from the spot to earn Rovers a share of the spoils early in the second half before captain Sam Barnes was shown a second yellow card late on as both sides ended with 10 men.

That came after Spurs captain Brooklyn Lyons-Foster was sent off in first half injury time for an off the ball incident, moments after Kion Etete had put the hosts ahead.

Three Rovers players were yellow carded, as well as Barnes who was booked in either half and shown his marching orders in what was a feisty affair.

Rankin-Costello was given a second run-out for Billy Barr’s side following three months out with a hamstring injury. He played first half of the win over West Ham United last week at right back but moved into midfield for the Spurs clash, where a point saw Rovers remain second in the table.

Billy Barr was without three players who started against the Hammers as Dan Pike and Connor McBride remained with the first-team after being on the bench against Watford, while Luke Brennan missed out through injury that is expected to keep him out for several weeks.

That offered Under-18s winger Alex Baker, who has four goals and six assists this season, to make his first start for the Development Squad.

Rovers trailed two minutes before the break when Etete scored from close range, but levelled three minutes after the re-start as Burns scored from the spot after Lenny Cirino was fouled.

Spurs included three players, Marcel Lavinier, Nile John and Dilan Markanday, who were all in Jose Mourinho’s Europa League round of 32 second leg win over Wolfsberger AC.

Rovers are next in action when they welcome Southampton to Leyland on Monday, March 8 (12pm).

Rovers: Stergiakis, Whitehall, Cirino, Garrett, Barnes (c), Annesley, Durrant (Harlock 77), Rankin-Costello (Saadi 77), Burns, Nolan, Baker (Thompson 66).

Not used: Dowling, Connolly