City's hopes of finishing top of the Barclays Reserve League North took a blow after a disappointing 3-1 home defeat to Blackburn.

The visitors took command after a goalless first half with two quick goals after the break and despite Harry Bunn pulling one back, Rovers added a late third to seal the points.

City should have gone ahead in the first minute when Chris Chantler linked well with John Guidetti, but the Swede's low drive was well saved by Jake Kean.

Rovers hit back immediately and Jamie Maclaren forced a fine save from Loris Karius in a bright opening to the game.

The Blues gradually took control in the latter stages of the first half with Scott Kay and Freddie Veseli both going close within the space of sixty seconds, but Rovers, marshalled by the returning Phil Jones, survived five minutes of intense pressure.

Rovers raced out of the blocks after the re-start and quickly went 2-0 up with two goals in a minute. Matthew Pearson's bullet header opened the scoring from a James Knowles corner and while City's defence were still holding an inquest, Tom Hitchcock raced through to slot the ball past Karius to double Rovers' lead.

City rallied briefly to reduce the arrears on 54 minutes when  Bunn pounced on a poor back pass to hit a low drive past Kean to score his third EDS goal of the season- but it was one of few chances created by a lacklustre Blues.

Blackburn sealed the points when Hitchcock bagged his second on 81 minutes to cap a miserable night for Andy Welsh's side.