BLACKBURN Rovers under 18s look as though their 53-year wait to lift the FA Youth Cup trophy will go on a while longer after a demoralising 4-0 first leg defeat at Stamford Bridge this evening.

Rovers were left wondering what might have been after spurning several golden early opportunities before Chelsea took complete command to all but finish the tie.

Rovers striker Osayamen Osawe missed two good chances to give the visitors a surprise lead but Chelsea’s ultimate 4-0 first leg lead leaves a mountain to climb in the second leg at Ewood Park next month.

Rovers last won the competition in 1959 and, having lost two finals since, look as they will again be left disappointed.

Terry McPhillips’ men started the game brightly as they took the size of the occasion at Stamford Bridge in their stride from the off.

Chelsea’s expensively assembled side were the clear pre match favourites but it was Rovers’ starlets who impressed in the opening 20 minutes as they took the game to their hosts.

A lack of ruthlessness was to prove costly though as they saw a host of good chances go begging before Chelsea’s under 18s started to find their feet.

Chelsea had the first effort of the game though on five minutes when Todd Kane’s speculative 20-yard strike was parried wide by Rovers goalkeeper Matt Urwin.

Rovers hit back though and should have been ahead on nine minutes when good vision from Hugo Fernandez put Osayamen Osawe in the clear.

The Spaniard’s sublime chipped pass picked out the unmarked Osawe just yards from goal but, after chesting the ball down well, his volley was blocked by goalkeeper Jamal Blackman.

Osawe had another good opportunity to fire Rovers ahead a few minutes later as Chelsea looked shocked by the visitors impressive start.

A Rovers corner was only partially cleared but, with Blackman flapping, Osawe could only head over the bar from close range.

The missed chances were to prove costly when the hosts went ahead with their first real spell of pressure on 20 minutes.

Chelsea skipper Nathaniel Chalobah ghosted into space to head home Amin Affane’s right wing clipped cross.

The hosts started to take control and almost doubled their lead on 26 minutes when Rovers skipper Ryan Edwards hacked Affane’s strike off the line, after Urwin had denied Islam Feruz Chelsea were not to be denied for long though as they took charge of the tie with a second goal on just 29 minutes.

Midfielder Lewis Baker spectacularly fired into the top corner from 20 yards after £5million man Lucas Piazon held the ball up on the edge of the area.

Rovers refused to be daunted by the task they were facing at the break and almost got themselves back in the tie on 49.

Jack O’Connell’s searching pass from deep found John O’Sullivan on the right edge of the area but his strike across goal was well parried by Blackman.

At the other end John Swift headed wide from close range when he should have done better, with Rovers knowing conceding another would spell curtains for their hopes.

Their worst fears came true on the hour mark when Baker’s brilliant through ball split Rovers’ defence and Feruz coolly raced clear to slot Chelsea’s third goal under Urwin.

Feruz deepened Rovers’ misery on 69 when he touched home past Urwin after Piazon cut inside and threaded a precise through ball into his path.

Rovers bravely fought on to the end but struggled to make much impression against a Chelsea side who were living up to their reputation.