Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the 2-2 draw with Oldham Athletic.

FIRST HALF FAILINGS

After the terrific first half displays against Shrewsbury, Fleetwood and Walsall last month, three of their last four opening 45 minutes have been well below par.

Against Northampton, Plymouth and Oldham Rovers found themselves over-ran and looking lost for ideas in the final third. Here, they were restricted to long range efforts in attack and far too easy to counter in defence, with Oldham fully deserving of their 2-0 lead.

Rovers have now conceded the opening goal in 11 of their 31 matches and for the second successive week trailed 2-0 at the break (and third time this season).

On 16 occasions they have failed to find the back of the net in the first half and trailed at the break seven times. Of their 56 league goals, 34 have come after the break and there have been many times Rovers have needed to rely on a second half turnaround.

TRAV TURNS THE GAME

It took a while for both the Rovers players, and most certainly the fans, to take in what system Tony Mowbray had sent them out in during the second half.

Lewis Travis started as a right-wing back but soon moved in a central midfield role, switching with Elliott Bennett.

It was a huge ask of the 20-year-old, charged with halting any Oldham counter-attacks while orchestrating attacks from the deep lying role.

His seamless switch in to the centre of the pitch coincided with Rovers' improvement. And it was his driving run that earned Rovers the free-kick for which Charlie Mulgrew dispatched.

His performances have shown great maturity which will certainly mean his time around the first-team is not a flash in the pan.

DEL AND BELL

With Charlie Mulgrew certain to play were he anything like match fit, would it be Derrick Williams or Amari'i Bell at left-back? Would Bell's impressive start to life in a Rovers shirt be enough to oust last year's player of the season who had started the previous 47 league games?

In the end, Mowbray opted for them both, Williams at left-back and Bell in a more advanced role.

While Bell's attacking play has impressed in his three outings, rampaging runs from full-back are a lot different to receiving the ball in the final third with the aim of beating an opposing full-back. He looked better as a wing-back, but from now on it may well be a case of one or the other.

TRUSTY LEFT BOOT

While Mulgrew may not have been at his best defensively on his return to the side from injury, his quality from set pieces certainnly remains.

He hauled Rovers back in to the game with a terrific curling effort, moments after being denied by Johnny Placide with an effort from much further out.

When Rovers were in need of a spark it came from his 20 yard effort, while his quality from inswinging corners was also impressive.

Twelve goals from centre back, and seven goals in the last 13 months from free-kicks is an outstanding achievement for the Scotland international.  

TIME FOR DARRAGH?

Rovers have now conceded in nine successive games, 12 in all, since keeping their last clean sheet in the Boxing Day win over Rochdale at Ewood Park.

The one positive on the horizon is the return to fitness of central defender Darragh Lenihan who looked back to his powerful best in a 90 minute showing for the Under-23s on Friday.

The Irishman says that was the final hurdle he had to overcome and is expected to travel with the squad for the trip to Portsmouth on Tuesday.

Would it be a risk to throw him in against Pompey so soon after his return and having not played since the opening day? Well he would certainly make Rovers more solid at the back, allow them to play higher up the pitch and be less susceptible to counter-attacks which Rovers have struggled to contain in their last two matches.

Having Lenihan and Mulgrew fully fit for the remaining 15 games would be a huge boost for Tony Mowbray and it’s definitely a case of when, not if, that pairing is sent out.