ACADEMY chief Bobby Downes believes Rovers young guns are in danger of becoming victims of their own success in the wake of their FA Youth Cup exploits over the last few years.
Twice in the last three years, Downes and his Academy staff have led sides to the final of English youth football's premier cup competition.
But as a result, he now feels opposition teams are raising their games an extra gear due to Rovers' reputation.
"After what we've achieved, we've now got a bit of a reputation at this level and we are starting to find teams are ready for us," said Downes.
Manchester City were the latest club to put up a strong fight at the weekend as the Under 17s crashed 1-0 and the Under 19s drew 2-2.
The Under 19 result was all the more disappointing considering Rovers had led 2-0 thanks to goals from Michael Taylor and Anthony Martin -- both from set-pieces -- only for City to then peg them back.
"We were winning 2-0 but Neil Danns then missed a penalty and we ended up hanging on for a point, which was disappointing," said Downes.
"And as for the Under 17s, we lost that one 1-0 but we made enough chances to have won two games.
"Give credit to City, though, they were really up for both games."
Now Downes and his troops will aim to get back to winning ways against Everton at the weekend. But they will also have one eye on next month's FA Youth Cup after being pitted against Chelsea in a mouthwatering third round tie at Ewood.
"It's not the easiest of draws because they'll have some decent players," said Downes. We know a bit about their Under 19s because we played them in a friendly in the summer. But we don't know much about some of their Under 18 lads so we'll have to have them watched in the next couple of weeks."
FA PREMIER ACADEMY
LEAGUE RESULTS
Under 19: Barnsley 1 Nottm For 3; Bolton 2 Liverpool 4; Bristol 1 Millwall 1; Chelsea 4 Wimbledon 0; Crewe Alex 2 Wrexham 1; Crystal Pal 2 Charlton Ath 0; Everton 1 Coventry 0; Fulham 0 Leicester 1; Manchester City 2 Blackburn Rovers 2; Middlesbrough 2 Huddersfield Town 2; Newcastle Utd 3 Derby Co 0; Norwich City 2 Birmingham City 1; Reading 0 Arsenal 5; Sheffield Utd 2 Sheffield Wed 1; Stoke City 0 Manchester Utd 0; Leeds Utd 0 Sunderland 0; Spurs 1Southampton 0; West Ham 3 Watford 1; Wolves 0 Ipswich 4.
Under 17: Arsenal 3 Reading 0; Barsnley 1 Nottm For 3; Bolton 2 Liverpool 4; Bristol City 0; Millwall 3; Charlton Ath 0 Crystal Pal 1; Coventry 2 Everton 1; Crewe Alex 1 Wrexhm 1; Leicester 4 Fulham 2; Manchester City 1 Blackburn Rovers 0; Manchester Utd 2 Middlesbrough 0; Newcastle 3 Derby Co 0; Sheffield Utd 2 Sheffield Wed 0; Southampton 1 Spurs 0; Leeds 1 Sunderland 1; Watford 0 West Ham Utd 2; Wimbledon 2 Birmingham 6; Wolves 0 Ipswich 0.
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