Latics fall to Blackburn defeat

CLOSE . . . Rhys Murphy tested Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele in the first half.

ATHLETIC 0, BLACKBURN 2

NATHAN Delfouneso and Craig Conway netted the goals as Athletic fell to a second home friendly defeat in a week.

Former Blackpool forward Delfouneso, who was a second-half substitute, headed home past David Cornell from a free-kick which was poorly defended by Darren Kelly's side.

Conway added a second in the 84th minute, racing into the box and firing home with an impressive effort.

Athletic had started neatly in a game of few chances, with Lee Croft impressing down the right flank.

Rhys Murphy had Rovers goalkeeper Jason Steele diving to his right to palm away a 20-yard drive and Joseph Mills also struck a fierce effort which Steele caught.

But Deflouneso flicked home a header from a John O'Sullivan delivery in the 58th minute.

And the same player went close with an effort for the Championship side which flashed wide from a cross sent over from the opposite flank.

Without Jonathan Forte, whose move to Barnsley fell through last week, and Dominic Poleon, Athletic failed to really stretch the visiting defence in the second half.

And Conway put the seal on it, netting a second with a neat exchange of passes and a well-struck drive across Cornell to emulate the victory gained by Bolton on Tuesday night.