West Bromwich Albion Reserves 4 Blackburn Rovers Reserves 1: Raffaele De Vita had an eventful debut for Rovers reserves last night, but couldn't mark it with a goal.

The 18-year-old from Rome had several efforts on goal in a game that Blackburn dominated for many spells, but his luck was out in front of goal.

Albion striker Stuart Nicholson had no such problems and he scored the first of his two goals after three minutes.

But home keeper Daniels then made a double save from De Vita and Jemal Johnson before the Italian was thwarted by the stopper's outstretched boot.

The first half ended disastrously as Nicholson added his second and Johnson limped off, but De Vita came close on three more occasions.

De Vita had two more chances early in the second half but Richard Lee kept Rovers in it with a stunning penalty save to deny Nicholson his hat-trick.

Craig Barr took full advantage of this lifeline to steer in a free kick with 10 minutes left but Sissoko and Elvins scored two late breakaway goals to give the scoreline a convincing, if misleading, look.

ROVERS: Lee, Kane, Jones, Barr, Taylor, Welch, Stopforth (Hodge 74), Harkins, Watt (Woods 88), Johnson (Treacy 35), De Vita. Subs not used: Fielding, Thomson