Latics win shoot-out at Blackburn

PENALTY WINNER . . . Lee Croft

BLACKBURN 2, ATHLETIC 2
(Athletic win 5-4 on penalties)

LEE Croft's penalty in the shoot-out gained Athletic an extra point in the final Checkatrade Trophy group game at a virtually empty Ewood Park

Anthony Stokes opened the scoring for Rovers, firing home with the outside of his right foot after 22 minutes.

Athletic were under-par in the first half but improved after the break and Ryan Flynn hit the bar from a cross by Freddie Ladapo.

Substitute Ladapo then smashed in from a cross by fellow half-time replacement Lee Croft on 52 minutes, before Liam Feeney restored Blackburn's advantage with a 25-yard shot that gave Connor Ripley no chance.

Brian Wilson levelled on 67 minutes, converting with his right foot from on the penalty spot after latching on to an Ollie Banks free-kick.

With the game level at 90 minutes, a shoot-out followed in which Ripley scored himself, before Croft converted the winning spot-kick.