THIS remarkable run of which Rovers are in the midst of had arguably been without that one standout moment of sheer exhilaration.

There had been the three goal blitz in 13 minutes at Peterborough and a season’s best performance in the win over Shrewsbury Town last time out, but there are few better things in the game than a late winner and scenes of pure joy in front of a packed away end.

Throw in to the mix that Richie Smallwood's late strike moved Rovers in to the automatic promotion spots for the first time this season and it was a pretty satisfactory end to a day in which they threatened to run riot, then to have shot themselves in the foot.

But the squad in which Tony Mowbray has now assembled means Rovers keep on coming. Whether that be in their waves of pressure, or the options they can now turn to from the bench, they have a relentless nature about them which helped them over the line.

There is a growing sense that under Mowbray Rovers are building something positive on the pitch, something for those in the stands to get excited about. The away end, although only 1,100 in number, sold out within four hours while the feel-good factor around the club is only going to tempt more through the Ewood Park turnstiles in the remaining games.

In the opening 45 minutes Rovers were at their dominant best, only for the scoreline to not reflect just quite how on top they had been.

Registering almost 70 per cent of possession, they squandered their first excellent chance within just two minutes as Dominic Samuel could only find the side netting after being played in by Bradley Dack.

Derrick Williams hit the bar with a header from Charlie Mulgrew’s corner, while Danny Graham was denied by Chris Neal after meeting a Samuel delivery.

All those came within the opening quarter, before Rovers did eventually find the breakthrough in the 28th minute. Graham pulled off to the far post to nod down an Elliott Bennett cross in to the path of the onrushing Dack who took it in his stride before sliding the ball underneath Neal.

The Rovers attacker had seen a goal chalked off prior to that, with the linesman adjudging him to have strayed in to an offside position to head home Craig Conway’s cross.

Rovers’ quest for a second should have seen them awarded a spot-kick when Samuel was tripped by Gethin Jones, who had a torrid afternoon, only for the referee to wave away the appeals.

Mowbray’s men went in to the break fully in control, but without a second goal, something that almost changed within five minutes of the re-start. Smallwood slipped in Graham, but despite beating Neal, his shot came back off the post while also evading Dack.

But the whole game was to turn on its head as just when Williams and Mulgrew looked to have the situation under control, the skipper to underhit his backpass which allowed substitute Connor McAleny to steal in ahead of David Raya and roll the ball in.

Raya had made an outstanding save to deny Paddy Madden, albeit the striker was offside, but the hosts were growing in confidence after their equaliser. Madden blasted wide, while Glendon twice tested Raya, as Rovers turned their bench in a bid to turn the tide.

Jack Payne had nine assists in an Oxford shirt before his Ewood move, and would claim another before the final whistle. But the winner owed much to Smallwood’s composure to switch the ball on to his right foot before lashing an effort in to the roof of the net to cue the wild celebrations.

It was no less than Rovers deserved over the course of the 90 minutes, nor is their spot in the top two given this relentless run.