Yuri Ribeiro, Emmanuel Dennis and Cauley Woodrow all played the first half as Rovers Under-21s exited the Premier League International Cup against Athletic Bilbao.
The trio of deadline day signings got some important minutes under their belts at the Wham Stadium.
Harrison Wood had cancelled out Asier Hierro’s opener with a stunning strike, but Iker Monreal nodded home a late winner for the visitors.
Hierro struck inside the opening couple of minutes, latching onto Benat Garcia’s pass and slotting past Jack Barrett.
Kristi Montgomery went close with a volley before Ander Pecina glanced a header just wide at the other end.
Harley O’Grady-Macken was denied by Oier Gastesi after latching onto Ribeiro’s clever pass, and Dennis then saw a strike deflected just wide.
Wood, Brandon Powell and Isaac Dunn were all introduced at the break and Powell curled a strike just wide as Rovers searched for an equaliser.
Barrett’s heroics prevented the visitors from doubling their lead as the goalkeeper pulled off a triple save.
The equaliser came 12 minutes from time when Wood collected Rhys Doherty’s pass and fired a brilliant strike into the top corner.
George Pratt nearly completed the comeback moments later but his low drive crept wide of the post, and Monreal’s winner at the death was a cruel blow.
Mike Sheron’s side finish sixth in Group B, with Bilbao and Lyon advancing to the knockout rounds. The youngsters are back in league action against Manchester City this weekend.
“Ultimately, we are disappointed to crash out but I feel we have given a great account of ourselves in the competition across the four games we have played,” Sheron told RoversTV.
“I felt we showed good character. We stuck at it and it is always nice to have those first team players with us, the new signings, who I hope feel the 45 minutes helped them,” he added.
