Tony Mowbray said the first-half performance is what he is looking for from his side after the 1-0 win at Hull City.

Bradley Dack scored his fourth of the season just before the break as Rovers held on for their first three points of the season.

It was a deserved victory for Rovers who dominated for long periods, not least in the opening 20 minutes when they could have been 3-0 up.

But reflecting on a first win of the season, Mowbray said: “Any three points is welcome.

“I think it was deserved, the first half performance was what we are trying to produce.

“Second half we had to dig in, but we had some fantastic chances as well, to see it out.

“We needed the goalkeeper once to make a great save but lots of components to the game that we were happy with that.

“We started on the front foot, could have scored two or three in the first half, but we got the goal and to keep going, and have some great opportunities in the second half, I think of Danny’s header and Benno sliding in, so some great opportunities.

“But it wasn’t meant to be, we will put the three points in the bag, and let’s get ready for Wednesday night.”

Adam Armstrong was handed his first league start since signing from Newcastle United and went close on a number of occasions in the first half.

Rovers missed some excellent chances after the break, not least Elliott Bennett who fired wide from inside the six yards box.

But it took a fine David Raya save before the end to preserve the three points.

“I did think we would score more than one today,” Mowbray added.

“We have done it ourselves, they pushed their full-backs forward, you load your midfield, sit man for man at the back, and we had to defend and see it out.

“Thankfully we managed to see the game out. When you get to those points you hope to break-away and score.
“By that time Armstrong had just about blown his legs off, he was struggling to do the work in the final 15 minutes, but (Joe) Rothwell came on and did well again.

“You can see how tidy he is on the ball, Danny Graham gave us a platform to play off but we probably missed the legs in behind to try and see the game off.

“We managed it well, we got the points and I told them in the dressing room ‘let’s not get too excited, it’s just a game and we have to win a lot of games this year’.

“I said to them before the game that we should expect to go to Hull and win and try and win, and thankfully we have.

“Now we have to rest up and start preparing on Monday for Reading.”

Bradley Dack came off on the hour mark, replaced by Danny Graham, after going down with a knock.

But Mowbray said of the 24-year-old: “Bradley is fine.

“He took a knock really and it was a kick.

“He’s telling me it’s a knock, a bang, it’s just a bit sore to touch and there’s a bit of swelling but I’m sure that will go down and he’ll be fine.”