HAVING reached the final of the FA Youth Cup in two of the last three seasons, Academy director Bobby Downes believes the club has become a treasured scalp for opponents.

"There is no doubt we have been finding that this season, teams wanting to give it a real go against us," he said.

"We have earned a good reputation and so people want to beat us."

Both the Under 17s and Under 19s were in action against Leeds at the weekend with the younger team ending Leeds' unbeaten record.

"We had been beaten the week before, and conceded our first goals of the season, so it was nice to get back to winning ways," he said.

"That makes it four wins out of five this season so that can't be bad."

This weekend the two teams are both at home and they will welcome Middlesbrough to Blackburn.