United's second-string trailed inside 20 minutes at the Lancashire FA County Ground following Charlie Weston's drilled finish before the visitors levelled the scoring in the closing stages of their league encounter courtesy of substitute Josh Scott.

However, the young Magpies fell behind in the 86th minute as Nsangou's header from Zak Gilsenan's corner condemned United to defeat in Lancashire.

Ben Dawson made four changes from the side which claimed a 2-2 draw away at Leicester City earlier this month as 16-year-old winger Trevan Sanusi, who joined the Magpies from hometown club Birmingham City last summer, was handed his Premier League 2 debut in place of Ben Parkinson, who was named on United's first-team bench for last night's 2-0 win at Fulham in the Emirates FA Cup.

With Travis Hernes and Alex Murphy also part of the first-team squad for Saturday's clash against the Cottagers, 18-year-old midfielder Ellis Santon and Dylan Charlton were both named in the young Magpies' starting XI while Michael Ndiweni, who made his Premier League debut for his boyhood club against Chelsea in November, led the line in place of Dylan Stephenson, who joined South Shields on loan for the remainder of the 2023/24 campaign on Thursday. 

Magpies goalkeeper Reece Byrne, who joined the club from League of Ireland Premier Division side Bohemians F.C last summer, was forced into early action as the Irish teenager saved Gilsenan's crisp effort at goal.

The Republic of Ireland Under-19 international produced an important double stop shortly after, saving Dominik Biniek's back-post header before denying Tom Bloxham seconds later.

In the 20th minute, however, Rovers broke the deadlock through Weston as Leo Dura advanced forward before picking out Weston, who controlled the ball before firing his effort into the bottom corner.

In the second-half, Scott and Anthony Munda, making his Magpies debut at under-21 level in the process, were introduced before the restart and the former went close to equalising in the opening exchanges of the final 45 minutes, with the Gateshead-born youngster's fierce strike forcing Joe Hilton in holding the goal bound attempt.

After Michael Ndiweni's header looped narrowly over the bar for Newcastle, Bloxham almost doubled Rovers' lead but the striker's effort from a tight angle crashed off the outside of the post.

Munda, a representative of England at under-18 level, went close to netting on his second-string debut but the 17-year-old midfielder's strike was parried away by Hilton before Huntley's rebound was also turned away by the 24-year-old shot-stopper.

Ciaran Thompson, who signed his first professional contract with his boyhood club, almost netted his first goal at under-21 level but the Blyth-born defender's towering header was saved from point-blank range by Hilton.

Newcastle levelled the scoring in the 70th minute through Scott as the 21-year-old's strike latched onto Amadou Diallo's pass inside the penalty area before slotting the ball beyond Hilton.

In the 86th minute, Newcastle were delivered a tough blow as Nsangou netted for Rovers, rising high from Gilsenan's in-swinging corner from the left flank before guiding his header into the top right-hand corner.

Newcastle United Under-21s: Reece Byrne, Ciaran Thompson, Cathal Heffernan (c), Charlie McArthur, Dylan Charlton, Nathan Carlyon, Ellis Stanton (Anthony Munda 46), James Huntley, Amadou Diallo, Trevan Sanusi (Josh Scott 45), Michael Ndiweni (Kyle Crossley 83). 

Subs not used: Charlie Wiggett, Jude Smith.