BRIAN Carey admitted Blackburn Rovers paid the ultimate price for careless starts to both halves in their FA Youth Cup 4-1 defeat at Tottenham Hotspur.

Top scorer Sam Joel brought Rovers level in the sixth minute after Ismail Azzaoui had opened the scoring inside 90 seconds.

But Spurs went back in front before the first half out was out and then scored a killer third immediately after the restart.

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And the game was up after the outstanding Azzaoui completed his hat-trick late on in Monday’s third-round tie.

Rovers coach Carey said: “They didn’t need our help but we certainly helped them with the two goals they scored at crucial times in the game – the start of the first half and the start of the second half.

“We responded really well to going a goal down and that was the pleasing side to it.

“I thought we shaded it and could even have got a second after getting in back to one each.

“I thought we had a decent go, I thought 4-1 was a little harsh.

“But as I said to the lads, if you make mistakes at this level you will get punished and that is exactly what happened.

“The important thing is the lads learn from what has happened and do their jobs to the best of their ability.

“It has been a good experience for the lads, it will stand them in good stead.”

Rovers, watched by first-team boss Gary Bowyer, fell behind in the second minute when Azzaoui curled home after Sam Lavelle was caught on the ball.

But Lavelle soon made amends, slamming a Connor Mahoney free kick off the bar, allowing Joel to nip in and net his ninth goal of the season.

That was the way it stayed until the 29th minute when Spurs captain Joshua Onomah beat Andrew Fisher at the second attempt after the Rovers goalkeeper had made a superb save.

Worse was to follow seconds into the second half as more slack pay in possession led to Azzaoui jinking his way through to score an excellent second.

And, after Rovers substitute Lewis Mansell headed a golden chance wide, the Belgian completed his hat-trick in style.

The U18s are next in action on Saturday week away to Sunderland.