Beating the drop from Premier League 2 isn’t on the forefront of Damien Johnson’s mind, but the Rovers Under-23s boss says his players are striving to maintain their top flight status.

Defeat at Everton on Monday was just a second in their last six matches, with four wins during that period moving them up to ninth in the table.

Johnson’s side were promoted to the top flight of Under-23s football last season as they lifted the Premier League 2 Division Two title.

They endured a difficult start to the campaign, but have rallied of late, and are two points above the relegation places with five league fixtures to go.

“The group themselves would like to, it’s not something I think about or talk to them about,” Johnson said of trying to stay in the top flight.

“They are a competitive group, even the games and relays we do in training, they want to win.

“That’s part of the development, learning how to win.

“It’s not at the forefront of my mind but we want to win games and compete.”

Rovers have allowed a number of their young players to leave on loan this year, with goalkeeper Andrew Fisher, defender Matty Platt and midfielder Lewis Hardcastle all joining for non-league sides earlier this month.

They followed the likes of Scott Wharton, Joe Grayson and Brad Lyons in securing moves away for the second half of the season, while Johnson has also seen Lewis Travis and Joe Nuttall become regular members of the first team squad.

Rovers travel to second bottom West Ham in their next league game on March 4, while they are already in the final of the Lancashire Senior Cup, and face Doncaster on Monday hoping to progress in the Premier League Cup.

On the benefits of Premier League 2 football, Johnson said: “They are getting tested. We certainly did earlier in the season and we did again at Everton.

“Our lads want to be playing against the better players in their age group in the country and that’s what this division throws up.

“It’s a good challenge and I think we have got better as the season has gone on.

“We found it difficult at times on Monday but for large parts, their ‘keeper played well, made some good saves.

“On another night it might have been a bit different.”

Meanwhile, Johnson felt his Rovers youngsters played in to the hands of Everton after seeing their four game unbeaten run end at Southport’s Haig Avenue.

On a testing pitch, Rovers were undone by two first half goals from Everton front two Bassala Sambou and Fraser Hornby.

Defender Tyler Magloire was caught on the ball, allowing Sambou to slam home the opening goal, before Rovers failed to clear their lines again as Hornby added the second from close range.

It was the second meeting of the two teams in 10 days after playing out a 1-1 draw in the Premier League Cup.

And after the 2-0 defeat, Johnson said: “It was a difficult game in difficult conditions. The pitch, we played here last week, and it’s not really conducive to a passing style of football.

“Unfortunately we showed a little bit of naivety in the first half and got punished for it. That was ultimately the difference. We are disappointed to lose.”

Rovers had their chances, with Joe Nuttall and Joe Rankin-Costello both denied by excellent saves from hosts ‘keeper Mateusz Hewelt.

The pitch meant for a scrappier game than Rovers would have hoped for, with Johnson admitting: “That’s how Everton try and play. They are quite direct and play with two physical and aggressive forwards.

“They get the ball to them early and get around it. It’s not often in our league that you play against that. It was a good test and for large parts we stood up to it and dealt with it.

“The flip side to that is that when they press high, it’s not conducive to lots of short passes, particularly deep in our half, and they are waiting for it. Unfortunately we played in to that and showed a little bit of naivety.”