Needing a two-goal margin of victory to better group leaders Blackburn in the standings, Cole Palmer gave City an early lead only for Rovers to draw level.
However, further goals after the break from Lewis Fiorini and Jayden Braaf secured the win on a day which also saw the welcome return to action of Tommy Doyle after a six-month injury lay-off.
It means City and Rovers have identical records with both claiming six points from three games and a goal difference of plus four with West Ham, on three points and a goal difference of minus two, yet to play Leicester in their final group game.
However, if it does go to a head to head with Rovers, City will top the group and qualify based on today’s result.
What happened
Knowing they needed a two-goal margin of victory, City made the perfect start by taking a third-minute lead.
D’Margio Wright-Phillips turned the Rovers defence inside out with a dazzling run on the right flank before finding the unmarked Cole Palmer who made no mistake from six yards out.
With Wright-Phillips causing constant panic in the Blackburn rearguard, City dominated the first 20 minutes and should have added to their lead.
Instead a mixture of wayward finishing and stout defending kept the scoreline down to 1-0 and, against the run of play, Blackburn drew level on 24 minutes.
Winger Luke Brennan swung in a cross which was met by Vilius Piliukaitis who, after seeing his initial shot strike the bar made no mistake with the rebound.
City suffered a further blow with Wright-Phillips injuring himself after colliding with a surrounding fence, which led to a first appearance off the bench in six months for Tommy Doyle.
The Blues maintained their dominance after the break but for the first 20 minutes we again couldn’t make the pressure tell.
Then, on 64 minutes, just after Louie Moulden had produced a wonder save to deny Brennan, City launched a devastating counter-attack to retake the lead.
Ryan Corrigan played a superb pass to Jayden Braaf and his low drive was met by Lewis Fiorini who made no mistake from close range.
Rovers almost drew level on 70 minutes when Jack Vale’s powerful shot struck the bar and bounced back off the line.
But Taylor’s young charges kept their composure and were rewarded with the crucial third goal on 72 minutes.
Palmer was the architect and his finely weighted pass freed Braaf who tuned inside before firing a stgunning shot into the corner of the net to seal the two-goal win.
How we lined up
Louie Moulden was in goal with a back four of Henri Ogunby, skipper Rowan McDonald, Yeboah Amankwah and Ryan Corrigan.
Joe Hodge shielded the midfield with Ben Knight and Cole Palmer further forward and D’Margo Wright-Phillips and Jayden Braaf on either flank. Lewis Fiorini was deoplyed as the striker.
What’s next
City’s Under-18s are next in action in the FA Youth Cup third round away at Clevedon on December 19th, kick-off 7pm.
