It is Chelsea who take a slender lead into next Monday's FA Youth Cup semi-final 2nd leg after a narrow 1-0 victory at Ewood Park.
The only goal of the game came at the midway point of the first half when the unfortunate Tom Hitchcock touched a corner from Jacopo Sala into his own net.
Chelsea had enjoyed the better of the chances up until that point, but a spirited second half display should have seen Rovers get back on level terms.
Grant Hanley first saw a header cleared off the line and then when a second chance came his way it was superbly saved.
The night was spoilt somewhat by the double sending off of Rovers' Michael Potts and Chelsea's Aliu Djalo after a coming together sparked a brawl between the two sets of players.
But even though Rovers trail, they showed enough endeavour to know that the Stamford Bridge on Monday night is far from a foregone conclusion.
After an even start with both sides showing good touches and confidence on the ball, it was the visitors who quickly gained the upper hand.
Mitrovic stooped to head narrowly wide on the quarter hour, then from the opposite flank a Billy Clifford centre was headed onto the outside of the post by Jacopo Salo.
The pressure eventually told on 23 minutes, but it was through fortunate circumstances that Chelsea took the lead when a corner from the left by Sala was somehow touched into the back of his own net by the unfortunate Tom Hitchcock.
Knocked by the blow of going behind Rovers struggled to gain ground on their opponents with Chelsea showing why their Academy squad is so highly rated.
But to their credit Gary Bowyer's young charges weathered the storm and ended the first half the better of the two sides.
Jason Banton dragged an effort wide after good approach work, then stout defending stopped crosses from Micah Evans and Josh Morris finding their target.
Rovers took that improved showing into the second half and were much the better side.
Seven minutes after the restart Grant Hanley looked to have grabbed his third goal of the competition when he powered a header goalwards from Josh Morris' corner kick, but Aliu Djalo cleared off the goal line.
Jordan Bowen then had claims for a penalty waved away after going down in the area.
But a foul by Chelsea midfielder Jacopo Sala on Josh Morris sparked ugly scenes as both sets of players squared up.
After the melee had died down the officials ruled that the actions of Chelsea's Aliu Djalo and Rovers' Michael Potts warranted red cards and both players were given their marching orders.
Sala, whose foul sparked the confrontation, only received a yellow, with the decision being roundly booed by the home supporters.
Eventually play restarted and again it was Rovers who threatened, Jackson Ramm's centre from the right finding the towering Grant Hanley once again, but Sam Walker in the Chelsea goal made a fine save to tip the ball past the post.
Rovers continued to press and probe, but just couldn't carve out a clear opening against a resolute Chelsea defence, a Josh Morris drilled effort across the area just lacked the vital touch from a home boot.
Rovers had to be on their guard from the counter-attack with striker Marko Mitrovic inches wide with a shot across goal from one such break.
Gary Bowyer threw on quarter-final hero Osayamen Osawe for the final 15 minutes in search of a similar impact, but as both sides tired chances were less and less, although Josh Swann was alert at the death to keep out a Pappoe effort.
So the two sides meet again in just five days time, Rovers have plenty to play for, whilst Chelsea know they still have work to do to secure a place in the final.
ROVERS: Swann, Ramm, Hanley (c), A. O'Connor, Morris, Lowe, Potts, Bowen, Evans, Hitchcock, Banton (sub Osawe 74 mins).
Subs: Urwin (GK), Pearson, Ajagbe, Rustemaj.
CHELSEA: Walker, B. Clifford, Pappoe, Bruma, Conteh, C. Clifford (c), Sala, Djalo, Mitrovic (sub Sampayo 90 mins), McEachran (sub Lalkovic 82 mins), Tore.
Subs: Haxhia, Saville, Ince.
Booked: Sala, B. Clifford (Chelsea)
Off: Potts (Rovers), Djalo (Chelsea).
Attendance: 1332.
