TONY Mowbray praised David Raya’s ‘alertness’ after the Rovers goalkeeper impressed in his two outings over the Easter period.

Raya kept a clean sheet on his first league start since April 2015 at Nottingham Forest on Good Friday and made several important saves in the 1-1 home draw with Bristol City.

The Spaniard was handed his chance after an ankle injury sustained by number one Jason Steele whose run of 82 consecutive Championship starts was brought to an end.

Mowbray admits he will have a decision to make should 26-year-old Steele return before the end of the season, but has been impressed with Raya.

“He has done very, very well,” the head coach said of Raya.

“I do like his alertness, his speed of movement and thought, his distribution is quick.

“It always helps when your goalie makes saves. I’ve always been a coach that every goalie makes saves, but it isn’t necessarily about saving shots that makes you a good goalkeeper, it is your distribution, it is your ability to come for crosses and take pressure off the defence, it is your communication skills, it is different things really.

“He made one particularly good save, yet watching it back in slow-motion I’d have been disappointed if he hadn’t have made it as it was pretty close to his body.

“He’s done well, he looks alert, he looks bright, and we’ll see if he continues.

“We’ll have to wait and see what Jason Steele’s situation is and we’ll make those decisions when we have to.”