Tony Mowbray was focusing on the positives as Rovers beat Stoke City 3-2 at the bet365 Stadium.

Rovers were cruising to a third victory of the season after goals from Bradley Dack, Danny Graham and Harrison Reed had them 3-0 in front.

That’s how it stayed until the final 10 minutes when Saido Berahino reduced the arrears before Tom Ince set up a nervy finish with his goal eight minutes from the end.

Berahino then had a chance to level from the spot in the third minute of injury time, only to hit the crossbar with his effort.

And after hanging on for three points, the Rovers boss said: “Goals change games and from being 3-0 up and being totally dominant in the game and really should have been 4-0 up to clinging on for our lives otherwise it would have been another two dropped point.

“I’m not being critical with them, it is young players knowing how to see games out. I think the first goal, from the crowd being against the team to driving them on and us really feeling as if we were playing against a Premier League side with them cheering the side on.

“It’s what we worked so hard for last year and I’m delighted that we got the three points.

“There were so many positives from the performance that I would rather talk about that than the negatives of the last 10 minutes.

“Let’s talk about the magnificent support who would have enjoyed coming to Stoke City and seeing Blackburn Rovers getting three points.”

Substitutes Peter Crouch and Berahino combined to good effect in the closing stages as Rovers were forced to hang on to the win.

On the goals conceded, and trying to see games out, Mowbray added: “The first goal, Peter Crouch is on the pitch, 6’7” and he knocks it down and it hits the boy on the thigh as he’s arriving in the box.

“Can I criticise Nyambe for not being able to beat Crouch in the air? No.

“The second goal, Amari’i Bell should clear it, it’s right at him but he misses it and it goes in the  net.

“The penalty, they had four or five players up front and it drops over Lenihan’s head, but I see much to overly concern us.

“I know there was the Aston Villa and Ipswich scenarios but we saw the game out against Brentford 1-0, saw Derby out 0-0, goals change games and when teams over gamble, especially with a 6’7” centre forward then you can’t beat him in the air.

“If anything we needed to be braver and stay away from our box.”

It means Rovers have taken five points from games against Aston Villa, Derby and Stoke.

“We are disappointed it was only five points as well,” Mowbray said.

“Each game is like a major event for us at the moment and they will again next Saturday against Nottingham Forest, we obviously have a game in between in the cup and an opportunity for some different players to play.

“We have to trust in our home form next weekend against Forest and ask questions of them and see it where it takes us.”