Jordan Eastham was Rovers’ spot-kick hero once again, as Mike Sheron’s side drew 0-0 with West Bromwich Albion in the Premier League Cup.

Eastham – who scored one and saved three penalties in the Lancashire FA Senior Cup shoot-out success against Blackpool in midweek – came to Rovers’ rescue again from 12 yards, saving Layton Love’s second-half spot-kick to secure a share of the spoils.

At the other end, Tom Bloxham twice came closest to breaking the deadlock for Rovers, but he saw two free-kicks bounce back off the post.

Ahead of the game, Sheron made four changes to the side that defeated Blackpool in the week, with Jake Batty, Tom Atcheson, Rhys Doherty and Harrison Wood coming into the side in place of Leo Duru, Adam Caddick, Junior Nsangou and Zack Stritch, who netted Rovers’ late winner in their opening Premier League Cup group game against Reading.

In an entertaining and end-to-end opening period, Bloxham’s fantastic 30-yard free-kick cannoned back off the upright, before Caleb Taylor headed Harry Whitwell’s set-piece just wide.

West Brom’s Akeel Higgins then twice fired narrowly over the bar from distance, with Wood fizzing a crisp drive just past the post in between.

After the break, Batty was adjudged to have fouled Whitwell in the box, but Eastham was on hand to deny Love from the spot, with a superb save diving down to his right.

Bloxham then struck the woodwork for the second time with a free-kick from 25 yards, before Eastham made another smart stop to thwart Higgins late on, as the Baggies looked to hit on the break.

The result sees both sides remain unbeaten and on four points after two games played in the Premier League Cup.

Next up for Sheron’s side is a Premier League International Cup encounter against Nice at Ewood on Wednesday night.

ROVERS: Eastham, Haddow, Davies, Gamble, Batty, Doherty (Olson 66), Atcheson, Weston, Wood (Stritch 46), Powell (Boggan 60), Bloxham.
Subs not used: Khan, Willis.

Booked: Powell, Batty

WEST BROM: Cann, Hall, Taylor, Phillips, Nelson, Mfuamba, Richards (Heard 49), Shaw (Harper-Bailey 60), Whitwell, Higgins, Love (Sule 67).
Subs not used: Hollingshead.

Booked: Love

Report: Rovers Under-21s 0-0 West Bromwich Albion Under-21s