Igor Tyjon celebrated his call-up to England Under-17s squad with his first Ewood Park goal, as Rovers Under-21s lost 3-1 at home to Manchester United.

The 16-year-old striker cancelled out Ethan Ennis’ opener, but late goals from Sam Mather and Gabriele Biancheri secured the points for the visitors and inflicted a third straight league defeat on Mike Sheron’s side.

In a lively opening, Joe Hilton made a superb fingertip save to deny Jack Fletcher’s 20-yard strike inside five minutes, before Rovers responded well, with Tyjon seeing an effort blocked on the line and Exaucé Mafoumbi having a shot saved at the near post in quick succession.

The visitors opened the scoring on 11 minutes when Malachi Sharpe delivered a cross from the right and Ennis headed into the top left corner of the Rovers net.

Tyler Fredricson almost picked out the same spot with a header from a corner, but it went just over, before Sharpe went even closer, as his low effort across Hilton bounced back off the foot of the post.

O’Grady-Macken’s barnstorming break forward on 40 minutes was almost rewarded with a goal, but Dermot Mee again saved well at his near post, as United led at the break.

Rovers made a bright start to the second half, with Tyjon firing straight into Mee’s arms on 51 minutes, before netting the equaliser a minute later when he spun and fired a left-foot shot into the bottom corner following a brilliant run and pass from Matty Litherland.

O’Grady-Macken then saw a shot parried to safety, before Hilton produced an equally smart stop to deny Ruben Curley at the other end.

As the game entered the final 15 minutes, Sharpe dragged a shot wide of the target when clean through on goal, before the visitors did restore the lead a few moments later when the lively Mather finished off a well-worked move from back to front with a crisp strike.

United wrapped up the win five minutes later when substitute Biancheri converted Fletcher’s centre with his first touch after coming on.

Next up for Sheron’s side, a home game against Colchester United at the County Ground in Leyland on Tuesday night, in their first fixture of the Premier League Cup.

ROVERS: Hilton, Houghton, Litherland, Whitehall (R. Doherty 65), Powell, Caddick, O’Grady-Macken (Biniek 66), J. Edmondson (A. Doherty 76), Bloxham, Tyjon, Mafoumbi (Stritch 65).
Subs not used: Khan.

Goal: Tyjon (52)
Booked: J. Edmondson, Tyjon

MAN UNITED: Mee, Ogunneye (Kamason 90+3), Kingdon (Jackson 90+3), McAllister (Devaney 72), Rowe, Fredricson, Curley, Fletcher, Sharpe, Mather (Biancheri 82), Ennis.
Subs not used: Graczyk.

Goals: Ennis (12), Mather (78), Biancheri (83)
Booked: McAllister, Fredricson

Report: Rovers Under-21s 1-3 Manchester United Under-21s