U21s Report: City 1 Blackburn 0

With the added senior strength of Sean St. Ledger, Conrad Logan and Zoumana Bakayogo, all of whom got 90 minutes under their belts, City looked impressive against Rovers, who rarely threatened.

After hitting the crossbar twice in the first half, the winning goal finally arrived midway through the second 45, when Blyth was first to react after the Rovers ‘keeper had fumbled Harry Panayiotou’s header from a Michael Cain corner.

Blyth returned from a thigh injury to lead the line alongside Panayiotou and Joe Dodoo, while St. Ledger marshaled a defence that included Bakayogo, Alie Sesay and trialist Kieran Kennedy.

The game started with both sides taking care in possession and chances were limited in the opening ten minutes – John O’Sullivan firing a tame effort at Logan, while for the Foxes, Adam Dawson dragged a low shot wide from 20 yards.

But five minutes later the game really sprang into life. Panayiotou broke down the right and cut the ball back for Cain, whose effort came straight back off the crossbar and into the path of Ryan Watson. He took a touch and again rattled the woodwork as Blackburn scrambled clear.

While the possession stats were fairly even, City continued to have the better of the chances, and Blyth will have felt he should have done better when he scooped Watson’s cross over the bar from a good position.

The big striker, who was on loan with League 2 Northampton earlier this season, got a little closer a few moments later with a powerful left foot drive, but Rovers ‘keeper David Raya did well to get two hands to it.

With four points from the previous two matches, City continued to look solid as the half wore on, but despite Blackburn’s struggles to break down Beaglehole’s men, City themselves weren’t able to put Raya under sufficient pressure at the other end as Watson dragged a shot wide.

It was more of the same after the break, with the Foxes limited to a deflected Dodoo effort from outside the box as the well-drilled Rovers backline stood up to what City were throwing at it.

Rovers almost managed a spectacular opener just before the hour mark through Ryan Edwards, but the midfielder’s free kick from 25 yards rose just over the crossbar after being struck with some venom.

The pace of Panayioyou on the counter was always an outlet for the Foxes, but when he was bearing down on the defence on 65 minutes, the finish didn’t match the build-up and he blazed a shot wide of an untroubled Raya.

Panayiotou was then involved in City’s opening goal five minutes later. Cain swung in a left wing corner that he flicked on towards the far post. Blyth was quickest to react after Raya saved, and he thumped the ball into the goal from all of six yards to make it 1-0.

The goal opened the game up slightly, and after Blyth came within inches of connecting with a Panayiotou cross, Rovers substitute Dean Rittenburg saw his left foot shot tipped onto the base of the post by a full-stretch Logan, who gratefully collected the follow-up.

Blyth then made way for Callum Elder in City’s first change for the final ten minutes, but Blackburn failed to put the Foxes under pressure and they were able to see out the victory for another vital three points.

City:Logan, Sesay, Bakayogo, Watson, St. Ledger, Kennedy, Dawson (Stankevicius 89), Cain, Panayiotou, Blyth (Elder 80), Dodoo (Paratore 90)

Subs not used:Pearson, Smith

Goal:Blyth 70

Blackburn Rovers:Raya, Henley, Tumwa, Etuhu, Songo’o, Edwards, Molina, Leniham, Slew (Rittenburg 56), O’Sullivan, Hanley (Daniel 71)

Subs not used:Urwin, Bauress, Daly

Referee:Sian Massey