Aodhan Doherty’s first goal in blue-and-white halves earned 10-man Rovers a 2-2 draw at home to West Bromwich Albion in Premier League 2.

Shortly after hitting the crossbar, Igor Tyjon fired Rovers into a deserved early lead with a classy finish on 16 minutes, before Eseosa Sule’s brace saw the Baggies lead 2-1 at the break.

Doherty equalised for Rovers just past the hour mark with his first goal since his summer switch from Northern Irish outfit Linfield FC, before his namesake Rhys Doherty was sent off for a last-man challenge on Sule.

Despite playing the final 15 minutes with 10 men, Rovers looked the more likely to grab a winning goal, but they were unable to convert their chances and were forced to settle for a share of the spoils

Rovers started the game strongly, playing some excellent free-flowing football early on. Aodhan Doherty and Zack Stritch both tried their luck from distance and Tyjon saw a volley clip the top of the crossbar, before the England Under-17 international fired Rovers in front with a clinical finish into the far corner.

Aodhan Doherty almost added a second soon after, but his shot was cleared off the line by Noah Dupont, and the visitors equalised against the run of play at the midway point in the half when Sule raced clear down the right before finishing past Jack Barrett.

Ollie Bostock then missed a glorious chance to put Albion ahead, before Stritch fired just over the upright from a tight angle.

Tyjon was presented with a great chance to put Rovers back in front on 40 minutes after being slipped in by Stritch, but he was denied by Ben Cisse when one-on-one with the West Brom keeper and the visitors then went straight up the other end and took the lead, as Sule’s cross-shot from the right deflected off Max Davies past a wrong-footed Barrett.

Rovers came close to an equaliser on the stroke of half-time, but Stritch’s glancing header drifted just past the far post.

Just like they did in the first half, Rovers made a strong start to the second, going close again on 49 minutes, as Leo Duru burst to the byline, before standing up a cross to the far post, where the unmarked Adam Caddick headed over the bar from close range.

Sule then attempted an audacious effort for his hat-trick, which went a whisker wide of the far top corner, before Rovers drew level just past the hour mark when Lucas Houghton broke down the left before playing in Doherty, who got goal-side of the last defender, before finishing calmly into the bottom corner.

The Baggies threatened a third on 68 minutes when Matthew Crowther rounded Barrett, but his shot struck the outside of the post, before Rhys Doherty was adjudged to have brought down Sule just outside the box and the referee brandished a red card.

Despite the numerical disadvantage, Rovers ended the game the stronger of the two teams, as Duru curled a left-foot shot just over the bar after a neat one-two with Tyjon, Harley O’Grady-Macken then fired over the bar, before an even better chance arrived on the stroke of 90 minutes, as Dom Biniek delivered a brilliant free-kick into the box, which fellow sub George Pratt glanced goalwards, but his effort fizzed inches over the upright.

Both sides were forced to settle for a point apiece and next up for Rovers is a Premier League Cup clash with Preston North End and the LFA County Ground on Monday night.

ROVERS: Barrett, Duru, R. Doherty, Davies (Olson 63), Houghton (Pratt 77), Dunn (Biniek 86), Caddick, O’Grady-Macken, A. Doherty, Stritch (Bell 63), Tyjon.
Subs not used: Khan.

Goals: Tyjon (16), A. Doherty (62)
Booked: Caddick, Tyjon, Dunn
Sent off: R. Doherty

WEST BROM: Cisse, Nelson, Humphries, Dupont, Parker, Shaw (Deeming 63), Mfuamba, Crowther, Sule, Chimaziri (Higgins 70), Bostock.
Subs not used: Wallis, Walker, Kirton.

Goals: Sule (22, 41)

Report: Rovers Under-21s 2-2 West Bromwich Albion Under-21s