Ben Fyles’ second-half strike wasn’t enough to prevent Rovers Under-21s going down 2-1 away to Manchester United in Premier League 2.

The damage was done in the first half, as United deservedly led 2-0 at the break thanks to goals from Zidane Iqbal and Noam Emeran.

Rovers reduced the deficit on 68 minutes when Fyles converted Jared Harlock’s cross, but the hosts saw the game out comfortably to secure a fourth straight league win.

Ahead of the game, Rovers made eight changes to the side that defeated Everton 4-2 last time out, with Harlock, Jalil Saadi and Zak Gilsenan the sole survivors.

Dan Pike made his long-awaited comeback from injury, starting his first game since August, whilst former Manchester United youngster Harley O’Grady-Macken celebrated his new professional contract with a place in the starting line-up.

And it was the 18-year-old midfielder who had the first real chance of note in the game, on 14 minutes, but his crisp 20-yard strike was well held by the United keeper.

It was a rare Rovers attack, as the hosts dominated the rest of the first half. Iqbal and Isak Hansen-Aaroen tried their luck with low long-range efforts either side of the midway point in the half, before United opened the scoring on 25 minutes in fortuitous circumstances.

Iqbal lofted a ball over the top looking for Omari Forson, who got in behind the Rovers defence and attempted an acrobatic touch and the ball bounced past a stranded Eastham into the back of the net.

The lively Hansen-Aaroen came close to doubling United’s lead just past the half-hour mark, but Eastham made a superb double save to keep out his stabbed volley goalwards and follow-up effort as well.

United threatened again on 40 minutes, as Marc Jurado’s shot was cleared off the line by Pike, Emeran’s shot on the follow-up was superbly saved by Eastham, who palmed the ball onto the post, and Joe Hugill’s rebound was ruled out for a foul.

The home side’s pressure eventually told on the stroke of half-time however, as Daniel Gore played a ball through to Emeran, who chopped back inside Harlock onto his right foot and curled the ball into the far bottom corner.

Rovers brought on Fyles for Pike at the break and the substitute halved the deficit midway through the second half, tucking home a lovely first-time finish from Harlock’s right-wing centre for his fourth goal in his last five games.

Straight from the restart, Hugill found himself through on goal, but Eastham made a smart stop to parry the ball around his near post.

Forson had three late chances to put the game to bed – his left-foot strike on 81 minutes clipped the top of the crossbar, before his swept effort goalwards forced a superb one-handed save from Eastham low to his left, before the Rovers keeper kept out his long-range strike a minute from time.

In truth, United were good value for the three points, with Rovers back in action on Wednesday February 1st when they complete their Premier League International Cup campaign against Celtic at the Lancashire FA County Ground, kick-off 7pm.

MAN UNITED: Bishop, Jurado, Murray, Hardley, Aljofree, Gore, Iqbal, Forson, Hansen-Aaroen (Collyer 82), Emeran (Mejia 82), Hugill.
Subs: Mee, Jackson, Huddlestone.

Goals: Iqbal (25), Emeran (45+1)
Booked: Hugill, Gore, Mejia, Collyer

ROVERS: Eastham, Harlock, Pike (Fyles 46), Gamble, Pratt (Walker 60), Gent, Saadi, O’Grady-Macken, Weston (Montgomery 30), Gilsenan (Caddick 77), Burns.
Subs: Dowling.

Goal: Fyles (68)
Booked: Burns

Report: Manchester United Under-21s 2-1 Rovers Under-21s