MARK Hughes believes David Dunn is getting stronger with every game' after he watched the midfielder earn his side a precious point against Arsenal yesterday.

Dunn grabbed his first goal for Rovers since returning to the club in January as Hughes' side came from behind to draw 1-1 with the Gunners at Ewood Park.

And Hughes hopes it will be the first of many valuable contributions from the 27-year-old, who is starting to show signs of recapturing some of his old magic.

"We are delighted for Dunny. I thought he was excellent," said the Rovers boss.

"His general play and his determination to have a positive effect on the game was excellent, and he'll be delighted with the goal.

"I pulled his leg afterwards and said it was an own goal, but he wasn't having any of that.

"Seriously, though, he looks stronger in every game he plays and he's having a bigger influence every time he takes part, so I'm delighted that he's back and getting to the levels that we knew he could."

After falling behind to an early Robin Van Persie goal, Rovers showed great spirit and determination to force their way back into what became a feisty contest with the Gunners.

And Hughes believes his side might even have nicked all three points had referee Alan Wiley interpreted a clash between Robbie Savage and Kolo Toure in the area slightly differently, or spotted the fact Jens Lehmann carried the ball over his goal-line at one point under pressure from Morten Gamst Pedersen.

Struggling to contain his frustration, the Rovers chief said: "You'll have to ask Mr Wiley about them. I've seen them myself and I have a view, but it's best left unsaid."

Hughes also felt the amount of unnecessary stoppages didn't help Rovers' cause.

He added: "The only issue from our point of view was there were a lot of stoppages in the game, and a lot of time taken over injuries and things.

"The referee will say he'll add the minutes on at the end of the half, which he did, but my argument is I don't want minutes on the end of the game, I want momentum.

"We were in the ascendancy and those stoppages in the game affected the momentum that we had.

"But apart from that, it was a good, competitive game and I thought we were the better side."