A LATEEF Elford-Alliyu brace and Josh Knight strike saw Albion Under-18s storm to a 3-0 win at Blackburn Rovers in FA Premier Academy League (Group C) on Saturday.

Elford-Alliyu opend the scoring after just four minutes and bagged his second of the game ten minutes before the break, with Knight's 15th-minute effort sandwiched in between.

And coach Michael Appleton was full of praise for his troops.

"I spoke to the lads about the importance of starting games well because they've not really started the last three games very well," he said.

"I made them well aware about splitting the game up into thirds.

"The first third is about starting well and making sure you're in the game.

"The second third is about maintaining what you've got or looking to step on again and the final third is about chasing the game or looking to consolidate by being solid and hitting teams on the counter-attack.

"The boys took it all on board.

"I couldn't help praising the boys at half-time because the first 45 minutes was the best I've seen the youth team play since I've been here.

"But I'm not getting carried away because in the second half we took our foot off the gas.

"Our discipline was outstanding however.

"They had a player sent-off ten minutes into the second half but our boys didn't get involved.

"Even the referee complimented the boys on their discipline."

Appleton added: "We've had a good mix of performances and results so far this season and unless we have a really bad day no-one is going to batter us.

"All the games are going to be close and we're very close to a lot of the bigger clubs now.

"We should give everyone a good game every week - but they need to be consistent."

ALBION (4-4-2): Allsop; Pike, Clarke, Hancox, Saied; Mantom (Lovell 82), Samuels, Knight, Sawyers; Elford-Alliyu (Brown 70), Lake-Gaskin (Wood 70). Subs not used: Waghorn, Malcolm.