Carrick watches Gabriel on target again as Man U18s cruise to Blackburn win

JJ Gabriel won and then cooly converted a penalty as Manchester United's U18s continued their winning start to 2026 against Blackburn Rovers.

Substitute Kai Rooney’s low shot and a sublime Jim Thwaites free-kick sealed a deserved 3-0 victory at Carrington with Michael Carrick again watching on.

A 12th consecutive success in all competitions for Darren Fletcher’s side keeps the pressure on leaders Manchester City, who drew 2-2 at Burnley, at the top of the U18 Premier League North table.

Afterwards coach Darren Fletcher said: "I thought we were the best manager throughout, it was a case of getting the first goal.

He continued: "After we got our goal we looked like the team that was going to go on and score more.

United made three changes to the starting XI that reached the semi-finals of the FA Youth Cup in midweek by beating Sunderland 3-2 last week.

Thwaites brought the first save of the game from Blackburn goalkeeper Finley Taylor, who was almost caught out by a clever free-kick from the right channel.

The midfielder pulled another effort wide from 20 yards after a well-worked move down the left involving Noah Ajayi, Gabriel and Louie Bradbury.

The Reds settled into the game as Gabriel threatened once more with a low shot from outside the box, which narrowly missed the target.

Gabriel turned superbly inside the box and drew a foul by Rovers substitute Levi Ball, before sending the keeper the wrong way from the penalty spot.

Kai Rooney entered the action in place of Bradbury on 63 minutes and made an immediate impact as he received Nathaniel-Junior Brown’s pass and found the bottom corner with a low shot from 20 yards.

United had firmly taken control and added to our advantage in sublime style, as Thwaites curled in a delightful free-kick from the left channel to make it 3-0.