BLACKBURN Rovers Under-23s secured a second straight Premier League 2 Division Two victory as they defeated Stoke City 2-0.

Joe Rankin-Costello and Charley Doyle were on target in the second half for Damien Johnson's side at the County Ground in Leyland.

In a tight first half Lewis Mansell twice went close for Rovers while at the other end Thibaud Verlinden tested home keeper Andrew Fisher before the stopper had to be alert to prevent a Matty Platt deflection from going into his own net.

The hosts lost Stefan Mols to injury midway through the half with the frontman stretchered off an replaced by Tyler Magloire.

Rankin-Costello made the breakthrough 10 minutes after the interval when he converted a rebound after Doyle's shot had come back off the post.

The goal gave Johnson's men a lift and Adam Kay came close to a second with a 20-yard drive before Doyle did double the lead when he volleyed home from a corner.

Mansell then twice went close as Rovers looked to cement the points before play was held up for seven minutes after the referee collided with a Stoke player and had to leave the pitch with a head injury.

When play did resume it was Rovers who came closest to adding to the scoreline when Jack Doyle saw an effort cleared off the line.

ROVERS: Fisher, Travis, C Doyle, Platt, Wharton, J Doyle, Mols (Magloire 23), Thomson, Kay, Rankin-Costello, Mansell. Subs: Albinson, Evans, Wright, Butterworth