TONY Mowbray said it was ‘job done’ for Rovers as they booked their place in the FA Cup third round.

Danny Graham’s first half strike was enough to see Rovers past the League Two side and secure a home tie with Hull City in round three.

The game went ahead in difficult conditions, 24 hours after the initial replay date following snow and ice. But Mowbray was keen to get the game played so not drag in to another week.

Rovers were able to hand rests however to the likes of Ryan Nyambe, Paul Downing and Marcus Antonsson with a number of fringe players handed minutes.

“It has affected the preparation (for Charlton) but I felt that we needed to get this game out of the way so the players will recover now and we’ll practically not kick another ball until Saturday now,” Mowbray told the Lancashire Telegraph.

“Everyone is on Thursday to cool down and prepare because Charlton is a huge game for us on Saturday.

“It will be rest and recovery and in the video room rather than a two day build-up to a match which we usually do.

“They worked extremely hard and put a lot in to it. 

“We got the job done and we're in the hat for the next round. 

“We could have been more clinical. 

“We had some great opportunities that didn't really materialise in to clear cut chances, the final pass overhit and pushing players wide rather than being a first time finish. 

“There are lots of positives in what were terrible conditions for football in the first half. The weather was something we had to contend with but we played some good stuff and come away with no injuries.

“We now have a couple of days to recover from Charlton.”
On the conditions, Mowbray added: “It affected the pitch and even the game up a little bit.

“It was important to get the game on and not have the burden of it dragging in to next week.

“That’s why we suggested playing tonight after yesterday’s postponement and not have it hanging over us so it is good not to have it hanging over us.”

Charlie Mulgrew was one of four players to keep their place from the side which won at Peterborough on Saturday.

And the boss said: “There was good performances all over the pitch, I thought the concentration was good, we dealt with their threat and the bit of experience was important, that’s why I went with Mulgrew over Wharton because I thought that was what was needed.

“Him and Smallwood intercepted a lot of balls and ultimately defensively we got the job done.”

Rekeem Harper was substituted at half-time, replaced by Lewis Travis, having been booked in the first half for kicking the ball away.

And after the West Brom loanee was sent off in the game at Ewood Park, in which Rovers finished with nine men, Mowbray admits that played a part in the switch.

“I asked him to play in an unusual position, he got himself booked and I felt in games like this where one wrong decision to put your foot in could have seen us down to 10 men and sometimes the irony of these things can hit you in the face,” he said.

“We didn’t want to take any changes and young Travis came on and did exceptionally well.

“He falls in to the soldier category but I thought they all did well.”

And on a third round date with Hull, Mowbray said: “I think it will be a nice test.

“We have to focus on the league games and then will see what team we think is appropriate for that test.

“But nothing changes in terms of our priority this season and picking teams to win league rather than cup matches.”