Title-challengers at the start of 2021, Rovers Under-23s face the prospect of ending it at the bottom of the Premier League 2 table.

What are the reasons, how has it happened, but just as importantly, does it really matter?

A 4-0 defeat to Manchester United was a fourth successive Premier League 2 defeat for Rovers, a fifth in all competitions, and coupled with the upturn of fortunes for Derby County, who beat them 6-0 last month, they have slipped to the bottom of the table.

With 14 of their 26 league games played, they have won only twice, with five draws leaving them on 11 points.

So what has changed?

The biggest difference is the age of the squad. There appeared a shift in the way that Rovers looked at the Under-23s team at the turn of the year and a consequence more players were pushed up from the Under-18s and regular starters were loaned out.

Harry Chapman scored twice and contributed five assists before leaving to star on loan at Shrewsbury Town.

Brad Lyons at 23 was a regular in the middle of the park but moved out on loan in January, captain Joe Grayson finished the season with Oxford United and Hayden Carter went to Burton Albion.

Others such as Lewis Thompson and Stefan Mols, previously regulars in the side, were fazed out to allow younger players to come through as their contracts drew to a close.

Where there had been players recruited specifically for the Under-23s in previous seasons, Connor McBride finishing top scorer last season with 12 goals with Louie Annesley and Joe Nolan signed before him, there hasn’t been that level of recruitment this time around, instead a focusing on nurturing homegrown players.

Injuries too have really hit the Under-23s hard, particularly in defence.

Ash Phillips is one of the club’s top prospects but the defender is currently sidelined by an injury picked up on international duty with England Under-17s, while Sam Barnes made his first appearance of the season in the United defeat. Jalil Saadi has also been unable to establish himself in the side due to fitness issues, while Isaac Whitehall, a dependable figure in the middle of the park is also injured, as is Jake Garrett who made his mark in the first-team during the pre-season friendlies.

Rovers’ approach to their Under-23s matches has seen several players who would otherwise be regular starters sent out on loan.

Some failed to get moves to EFL clubs but have instead gone into non-league, Dan Pike spending a month in National League North with AFC Fylde before injury cut that short, Sam Burns spent time in the Northern Premier Division with FC United of Manchester while Louie Annesley recently extended his time with National League outfit Woking.

Jack Vale started the season in the Under-23s but has since moved to National League Halifax but is yet to score in his nine appearances.

Those players would otherwise have formed the backbone of the side this season but have largely been unavailable to manager Mike Sheron who admits that confidence has taken a hit during the recent run.

“We’re going through a tough time at the moment, it’s been difficult and confidence is a bit low,” he said.

“We’ve lost a few of our last games and haven’t scored too many goals, which has been frustrating.

“The knock on impact of that is the belief dropping a little bit.

“That’s where you have to show your character. We’re coming up against good sides every week, players who can put the ball in the back of our net.

“Arsenal had one, West Ham United had one chance that they put away, there was one opportunity for Queens Park Rangers as well.

“We’re getting punished but we can’t feel sorry for ourselves.

“I thought the first half was pretty abysmal to be honest, we lacked lots of what we’re normally quite good at, the pressing and the desire.

“I felt that was missing in the game. 

“There were one or two passes that didn’t find a team-mate in key areas, that bit of quality was missing.

“You look for individuals to step forward to show their reliability, how trustworthy they are and how consistent they are.”

While the first-team were securing a quick return to the Championship in 2017/18, the Under-23s were winning a promotion of their own under Damien Johnson and David Dunn, winning Premier League 2 Division Two.

Players such as Lewis Travis, John Buckley and Dan Butterworth, now regulars in the side were instrumental in that, while Joe Nuttall finished the season as top scorer and was promoted to the first-team fold.

In the three seasons back in the top flight they have finished fifth, seventh (due to points per game as Covid cut short the 2019/20 campaign) and fourth.

Last season they were Manchester City’s closest challengers for the title, but finishing the season with one point from their final four games saw them slip to fourth.

Their goals against column this season is of the biggest concern, the four shipped against United taking them to 38 conceded in 14 goals, already more than the entirety of last season.

What must be remembered is the level of opposition that Rovers are facing.

They and Derby County are the only Championship sides in Premier League 2, many who budget solely for their Under-23s side.

Rovers do things slightly differently, with their Under-23s group training regularly with the first-team rather than being a separate entity.

Also factored in has to be the fine form of the Under-18s who currently top their Premier League age group, sitting five points clear of Manchester City.

So there is definitely talent coming through the ranks as shown by the impressive FA Youth Cup win at Birmingham City last week, coupled with the fact that five of the current first-team XI are homegrown.

Development trumps results, but they of course can’t be overlooked. The Rovers youngsters will undeniably benefit from playing against some of the country’s best talent week in, week out and that’s the main argument behind trying to stay in the division.

They now have 12 games to try and find the necessary points to ensure they are playing Premier League 2 football next season.