Rovers reporter Rich Sharpe picks out five talking points from the 3-0 home win over Blackpool.

DOUBLE DELIGHT

Four goals in February saw Adam Armstrong named League One player of the month and he’s started March in fine fashion, with three in two games.

Both finishes here were quality in their own right. The first a distinctive curling effort displaying great technique with little thinking time, the second a perfectly placed side-footed effort running on to a pull-back.

It is seven in seven since his arrival at Ewood Park and Armstrong has certainly added some dynamism to an attack that had looked lacklustre at times following the injury to Harry Chapman.

How Rovers will be desperate to have that pair on the pitch at the same time.

GOALS AT GOOD TIMES

It could be argued there is never a bad time to score a goal. But right on the stroke of half-time, following up with another midway through the second half as the opposition threatened a comeback, are among the best.

Bradley Dack headed home the opener in first-half stoppage time while Armstrong scored a special goal to make it 2-0 and seemingly killed the game off as a contest.

He added some gloss to the win with a late third on what was a good afternoon for Rovers.

They toiled in an opening 45 minutes where things didn’t quite go their way, but the tension was certainly eased when Dack headed in his 15th of the season. Once again Dack came up with the goods when Rovers needed it most.

SMALLWOOD SURVIVES

After nine bookings in his first 24 games it seemed a matter of time before Richie Smallwood picked up his 10th and serve the subsequent two match ban.

He timed his first suspension to coincide with the FA Cup first round, but it appeared his run as an ever-present in the league would come to an end.

But 13 games, and no bookings in 2018, Smallwood made it to the 37 match cut-off point without another booking.

At times it looked to have played on his mind, others it may have been down to luck, though on the most part he has shown good self-discipline. Rovers could ill-afford to be without a player who there is no real like-for-like replacement in the squad.

Hopefully not having an impending suspension hanging over his head will give him the perfect balance between going for full-bloodied challenges but learning from the discipline which has served him well on occasions.

RIGHT-BACK CONUNDRUM

Ryan Nyambe looks set for a spot on the sidelines after picking up a hamstring injury.

When fit, he has been a  shoo-in at right-back.

Elliott Bennett filled in, and impressively so, against Blackpool and is an option for Mowbray moving forward, with Corry Evans his likely replacement in the middle of the park should that be the case.

As for two more natural options, there is the experienced Paul Caddis or youthful energy of Lewis Travis.

Caddis knows the level and has the knowhow, but there will undoubtedly be fitness concerns having started just once in the league in 2018.

Travis will hope not to have blotted his copybook his red card at Portsmouth on February 13 and although having played much of his senior football in central midfield, is best known for his work in the full-back role.

While Rovers won’t want to be without Nyambe for an extended period, they do at least have options.

HOW THINGS STAND

Shrewsbury were to keep up the pressure on Rovers, and keep the gap at five points with two games in hand after their home win over Walsall.

Wigan endured a topsy-turvy afternoon as they twice led, but then had to come from behind to take a point against Scunthorpe.

All Rovers can do is concentrate on themselves, another win on the board sees them on 76 points from 37 games, above Mowbray’s target of two points a game.

Whoever does finish third will likely do so with a huge haul of points.

The Latics play one of their four games in hand when they travel to face Bradford City on Wednesday, but will then fall back to four behind as they are in FA Cup action at the weekend.

So while we may know more about the promotion picture by 10pm on Wednesday, things will change once again next weekend.

With nine games to play, Rovers simply have to keep winning, that’s all they can take care of.