After defeating Accrington Stanley 1-0 in their opening outing, it was a much tougher test for Billy Barr’s side at the City Football Academy.

Rovers trailed 4-0 at the break, but improved in the second half, with both teams sharing a further four goals.

Sam Burns pulled one back for Rovers after John Buckley played the ball through to Stefan Mols, who dribbled before playing in Burns, who finished well first time.

The visitors’ second came from an unlikely source, as Hayden Carter tried his luck from 30 yards out and the ball struck the post before going in off the back of the Manchester City keeper.

Coach Billy Barr said: “It was a lesson and a disappointing day, because we kept on giving the ball back to them and that’s what they strive off.

“The bonus for us was it was a fitness workout, against a team that keep the ball very well.

“The goals were disappointing, because they generally came from mistakes from us. We need to be as diligent with our work as we can be, limit how much we give the ball away, limit the amount of times we turn it over in bad areas, because within two or three passes it’s a goal, and that’s the learning for our group going forward.”

ROVERS: Dowling, Pike, Magloire, Carter, Thompson, Whitehall, Buckley, Paton, Mols, Brennan (Saadi 60), Burns.

Report: Manchester City U23s 6-2 Rovers U23s