ROVERS reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points as Tony Mowbray's side made it three league wins in a row with a 3-0 victory at Rochdale.

FAN-TASTING FOLLOWING

WHILE not the furthest journey Rovers will make in League One this season, the number of fans who made the journey to Spotland from East Lancashire was hugely impressive.

The 3,229 who packed themselves in to the stand down one side of the pitch meant Rovers had just 66 fewer fans than the hosts.

Not that you would have known it as they backed their side from the first whistle to the last, particularly enjoying fan favourite Richie Smallwood getting on the scoresheet after just 10 minutes, while the second half brought plenty to savour.

Rovers’ aggregate away following is already above 6,700 and with two wins already on their travels, it took them until November 26 to achieve the same feat last season, they will be hoping to see plenty more.

Lancashire Telegraph:

UP AND RUNNING

TONY Mowbray was particularly pleased to see two of his strikers get on the scoresheet in the second half.

While Dominic Samuel had been the man in form in August, scoring four times in all competitions, Marcus Antonsson was to score his first goal in Rovers colours just before the hour with a close-range finish.

That came shortly after he missed a golden chance, and there was plenty of relief from the Leeds United loanee when he did find the net.

And Danny Graham then came off the bench to get his campaign off and running with a typical poacher’s effort.

Mowbray believes Rovers will need to score upwards of 80 goals to win promotion, so the more players that contribute to that tally, the better.

Lancashire Telegraph:

PLENTY IN RESERVE

ROVERS may be short of options in defence, but in the attacking areas, they are plentiful.

Mowbray opted not to name a defender on the bench, with four senior defenders injured, while new signing Sam Hart wasn't included.

Danny Graham, Bradley Dack and Harry Chapman came off the bench in the second half, with Peter Whittingham, Ben Gladwin and Rekeem Harper all confined to 90 minutes on the sidelines. All three substitutes added something to the side, providing Mowbray will plenty of selection headaches moving forward.

They made it seven goals in their last two league outings, and things from an attacking perspective are looking particularly bright for Rovers.

With the likes of Lenihan, Mulgrew, Nyambe and Wharton to return, the squad is looking strong.

Lancashire Telegraph:

DOWNING DEBUT

PAUL Downing was thrust in for his Rovers debut with Charlie Mulgrew not risked after picking up an ankle injury on international duty.

Deputising for Mulgrew was never going to an easy thing for the 25-year-old, but he will have been pleased to have played his part in a second clean sheet of the campaign.

It was something of a nervy start, with a couple of missed clearances, but as his distribution improved, so too did his defending alongside Elliott Ward.

Particularly impressive was his defending of the near post in the first-half in which he cut out several crosses.

Downing grew in to the game as it went on, and will pleased to have got that first outing under his belt.

Lancashire Telegraph:

THREE ON THE SPIN

ROVERS have somewhat dispelled the memory of those opening two league defeats with a run of nine points from their next three games.

They got up and running by ending Bradford’s 31 game unbeaten run in League One infront of their own fans, before the 4-1 win over MK Dons going in to the international break.

And they extended it to three games with a comfortable victory at Rochdale who, last season, collected the third most league points in front of their own fans.

If Rovers are to make it four wins in a row, they will have to do it at Scunthorpe United, the side who had the second best home record in League One last term.