TONY Mowbray was delighted to send the travelling Rovers fans home happy as an Adam Armstrong brace handed them a 2-1 win at Portsmouth.

The Newcastle United struck in both halves to see Rovers to victory, despite losing Ryan Nyambe to injury and seeing Lewis Travis sent off late on.

The victory saw Rovers move level on points with Wigan and they are now only outside the automatic promotion spots on goal difference.

Rovers were backed by 884 fans on a freezing cold evening on the south coast, with Mowbray delighted with the victory as Rovers continued their run this season of never having gone three league games without a win.

The boss said: “It’s a difficult place to come, particularly in the second half with them kicking towards their supporters in the second half it was always going to be difficult.

“They got an equaliser early in the second half and we thought it was going to be backs to the wall and then we lost (Ryan) Nyambe through injury and also had a man sent off late on.

“That’s for our supporters who travelled a long way and won’t get back until the early hours.

“We are trying to build a connection with our supporters, it hasn’t been the closest relationship over the last few years and to come to places like this and there’s 800 who have come here, it’s important they have a good journey home.

“For us, the bigger picture is that we’re trying to get out of this league so need to come here and win.

“This is an intimidating place to come, a fantastic footballing arena, and great credit to the people of Portsmouth who come out and support their team.

“But it’s great for us and the spirit of our team in a difficult environment and getting three points.”

Mowbray said he took a more relaxed approach in the build-up, adding: “We have players who care about the players and the team.

“I took a very low key approach to this game and sort of stood back and let them manage the team.

“Sometimes I can become a bit intense with the team meetings and fine details and I stepped back a bit and the players took control and got the job done.

“Sometimes it’s important to give ownership of the team to the people who are out on the grass doing the job.

“We’ve spent a lot of time working. 32 games in, lots of meetings on how we play on the front foot, squeeze and press.

“They don’t need me to keep telling me every game, they don’t need me to tell them and they got the job done.

“There is a spirit and camaraderie and that gives us a chance of being successful.”

On the matchwinner, he said: “I’ve managed Armstrong before at Coventry where he scored 20 goals.

“At his best he’s electric, he lives for scoring goals, he’s fast, shoots off both feet, can play number nine, off either side or at number 10 and of course we’re delighted he’s scored the goals.

“I thought it was right for him to start, I thought Armstrong’s qualities would have given them problems and that was the case.”