Manchester United Under-21s suffered a 4-0 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in our Premier League 2 meeting at the Progress With Unity Stadium.
Rovers opened the scoring after quarter of an hour when Aodhan Doherty powered home a strike from inside the box, with Albert Mills dismissed for a high challenge after 39 minutes.
The visitors took their tally to three through Joseph Boggan and Brandon Powell before referee Niall Smith sounded the half-time whistle.
The 10-man young Reds fought hard throughout the second half, but our defeat was confirmed when Boggan sealed his brace late on; the visitors' fourth and final goal of the game.
FIRST HALF
Following a respectfully observed minute's silence to mark Remembrance Day later this month, the game kicked off at a relatively steady pace, with both sides feeling their way into the game.
As the tempo increased it was Blackburn who capitalised, with Brandon Powell finding Doherty to his left from the middle of the penalty area, the latter receiving the ball and finding the far-right side of William Murdock's net with a powerful shot.
Travis Binnion's side went close to equalising just minutes later, when Victor Musa hit a low cross to Jayce Fitzgerald in the centre, the midfielder's subsequent effort looped inches over the bar.
United's night didn't get any easier when Albert Mills received a red card for a high challenge on Powell in the 39th minute, shortly after which Blackburn notched a second through a back-post strike from Joseph Boggan.
The referee indicated five minutes stoppage time at the end of the half, and Blackburn used that additional time to add a third when Valentin Joseph squared the ball to Powell for a simple side-footed finish.
SECOND HALF
United had an uphill task following a difficult first half and, a man down, Binnion opted to try and freshen things up with two half-time changes, introducing James Scanlon and Godwill Kukonki, before also sending on Shea Lacey on the hour mark.
The young Reds saw a decent amount of the ball despite the one-man disadvantage, with Dan Armer troubling Blackburn's defence with a header from a corner midway through the half, but the second period, as expected, involved plenty of opposition attacks to thwart.
That mission was succeeding until the 80-minute mark, when Boggan was first to a loose ball deep inside our penalty area and rounded Murdock to tap home the visitors' fourth.
Binnion's charges fought until the last, with Lacey, Kukonki and others showing some nice touches to try and build forward despite the scoreline, but it simply wasn't United's night.
MATCH DETAILS
United: Murdock; McAllister (Kukonki 46), Armer, Mills, Helafu (Lacey 61) ; Devaney, T.Fletcher; Musa, Fitzgerald, Mather (Scanlon 46); Biancheri (Obi 77).
Unused subs: Heath.
Goals: Doherty 15, Boggan 42, Powell 45+5.
Booked: Mills, Devaney | Doherty.
Sent off: Mills.
UP NEXT
Binnion's side are next in action against Notts County at Meadow Lane in the Vertu Trophy on Tuesday 4 November, scheduled for a 19:00 GMT kick-off – tickets available here.