ADAM Henley made his return from injury as Blackburn Under-23s were beaten 2-0 by Newcastle United on Monday night.

The Rovers right back played 60 minutes for Damien Johnson's side as he steps up his fitness following three months on the sidelines with a hamstring injury.

Wes Brown, Anthony Stokes and Jack Byrne all got valubale match minutes under their belts with the trio completing 90 minutes but they couldn't help Rovers to victory at Leyland.

Second half goals from Stuart Findlay and Callum Roberts secured the points for the Magpies.

"Obviously we are disappointed with the result," said boss Johnson.

"In terms of the performance, between the boxes we were good, it was just that final third where we were poor in terms of our final cross, too many times it was in the keepers' hands or it struck the first man and that is the last little bit that is important.

"We started the second half poorly and it was disappointing to concede from a set-piece, there was some good play from us but the goals were disappointing.

"When we needed that little bit of quality at the end we just didn't have it."

Byrne and Connor Mahoney were bright for Rovers in the opening period with both having chances to open the scoring while at the other end Andy Fisher denied Luke Charman.

But it was the visitors who broke the deadlock 10 minutes after the re-start when Stuart Findlay headed home at the second attempt after the returning Henley had blocked his first effort on the line.

Rovers looked to respond but failed to create too many clear cut chances with Byrne denied by Magpies keeper Freddie Woodman and Stokes firing wide.

Newcastle then wrapped up the result six minutes from time when Roberts curled home.

There was still time for Rovers to find the net but

There was still time for Connor Thompson to hit the bar for

Stuart Findlay headed Newcastle in front on 55 minutes after Adam Henley had cleared his first effort of the line, and although the Rovers had opportunities, it was the Magpies who took theirs as Callum Roberts grabbed a second six minutes from time to secure the win.

A break from midfield saw Joe Rankin-Costello with sight of goal, but his attempted lob flew high over the goal. Then a lovely flowing move saw Hardcastle tee up Mahoney, but his left-footed effort flashed wide.

Rovers continued to press and probe, Byrne saw a shot turned aside by Woodman, Stokes wide with a shot on the turn from the resulting corner kick.

But any chance of an equaliser ended when Newcastle added a second goal six minutes from time. Substitute Adam Wilson finding Roberts inside and the midfielder curled the ball beyond Fisher.

Rovers pressed until the end, sub Connor Thomson striking the woodwork as his shot beat Woodman, but as Lewis Mansell put the rebound in the back of the net the flag was raised for offside.

ROVERS: Fisher, Henley (Tomlinson 57), Doyle, Travis, Platt, Brown, Mahoney, Hardcastle (Mansell 76), Stokes, Byrne, Rankin-Costello (Thomson 80). Subs not used: Magloire, Powell