First-half goals by Joe Rankin-Costello and Dan Butterworth established a healthy lead for the away team in L4 and George Johnston’s late Kop-end conversion was mere consolation for the young Reds.
Neither side was able to carve out a real goalscoring opportunity in the first 20 minutes at Anfield, though Blackburn were the more confident and enterprising in their approach play.
And the visitors’ greater verve told midway through the half.
Stefan Mols carefully got back onside as Rovers recycled a second ball out to the right flank and the No.11’s pitched cross was met with a firm Rankin-Costello header that Caoimhin Kelleher could not keep out.